title: 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine therapy in patients with acute leukemia inhibits DNA methylation.
abstract: The effect of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-dCyd) on methylation of DNA in blood leukemic cells from patients with lymphoid and myeloid leukemia was investigated. After treatment with continuous infusion of 5-AZA-dCyd (1.0 mg/kg/h) the blood leukemic cells were isolated and incubated in vitro with [6-3H]deoxycytidine and the incorporation of radioactivity into 5-methylcytosine and cytosine of DNA determined. 5-AZA-dCyd produced greater than 70% inhibition of DNA methylation in the leukemic cells. The antileukemic action of 5-AZA-dCyd may be related to the inhibition of DNA methylation.
mesh_terms: D001374:Azacitidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002460:Cell Line; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077209:Decitabine; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy; D008745:Methylation
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D000077209:Decitabine; D001374:Azacitidine