Procarbazine

Procarbazine Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

An antineoplastic agent used primarily in combination with mechlorethamine, vincristine, and prednisone (the MOPP protocol) in the treatment of Hodgkin's disease.

Procarbazine is an antineoplastic in the class of alkylating agents and is used to treat various forms of cancer. Alkylating agents are so named because of their ability to add alkyl groups to many electronegative groups under conditions present in cells. They stop tumor growth by cross-linking guanine bases in DNA double-helix strands - directly attacking DNA. This makes the strands unable to uncoil and separate. As this is necessary in DNA replication, the cells can no longer divide. In addition, these drugs add methyl or other alkyl groups onto molecules where they do not belong which in turn inhibits their correct utilization by base pairing and causes a miscoding of DNA. Procarbazine is cell-phase specific for the S phase of cell division.

Procarbazine
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Procarbazine
Availability	Prescription only
Generic	Procarbazine
Procarbazine Other Names	Procarbazin, Procarbazina, Procarbazine, Procarbazinum
Related Drugs	Keytruda, pembrolizumab, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, Avastin, bevacizumab, Opdivo, nivolumab, vincristine, temozolomide
Weight	50mg
Type	Oral capsule
Formula	C₁₂H₁₉N₃O
Weight	Average: 221.2988 Monoisotopic: 221.152812245
Groups	Approved, Investigational
Therapeutic Class
Manufacturer	Alliance Pharmaceuticals
Available Country	United Kingdom, United States
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Procarbazine is an antineoplastic agent indicated for the treatment of stage III and stage IV Hodgkin's disease in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents.

For use with other anticancer drugs for the treatment of stage III and stage IV Hodgkin's disease.

Procarbazine is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), Oligodendrogliomas, Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma (PCNSL), Stage III Hodgkin's Disease, Stage IV Hodgkin's Disease

How Procarbazine works

The precise mode of cytotoxic action of procarbazine has not been clearly defined. There is evidence that the drug may act by inhibition of protein, RNA and DNA synthesis. Studies have suggested that procarbazine may inhibit transmethylation of methyl groups of methionine into t-RNA. The absence of functional t-RNA could cause the cessation of protein synthesis and consequently DNA and RNA synthesis. In addition, procarbazine may directly damage DNA. Hydrogen peroxide, formed during the auto-oxidation of the drug, may attack protein sulfhydryl groups contained in residual protein which is tightly bound to DNA.

Toxicity

LD₅₀=785 mg/kg (orally in rats)

Food Interaction

Avoid alcohol. Ingesting alcohol may potentiate the CNS depressant effects of procarbazine and may precipitate a disulfiram-like-reaction (nausea, flushing).
Avoid tyramine-containing foods and supplements. Foods that contain tyramine include yogurt, aged cheese, ripe bananas, wine, and sourdough bread.

[Major] CONTRAINDICATED: Foods that contain large amounts of tyramine may precipitate a hypertensive crisis in patients treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

The mechanism is inhibition of MAO-A, the enzyme responsible for metabolizing exogenous amines such as tyramine in the gut and preventing them from being absorbed intact.

Once absorbed, tyramine is metabolized to octopamine, a substance that is believed to displace norepinephrine from storage granules.

GENERALLY AVOID: Alcohol may potentiate some of the pharmacologic effects of MAOIs.

Use in combination may result in additive central nervous system depression and
MANAGEMENT: In general, patients treated with MAOIs or other agents that possess MAOI activity (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, procarbazine) should avoid consumption of products that contain large amounts of amines and protein foods in which aging or breakdown of protein is used to increase flavor.

These foods include cheese (particularly strong, aged or processed cheeses), sour cream, wine (particularly red wine), champagne, beer, pickled herring, anchovies, caviar, shrimp paste, liver (particularly chicken liver), dry sausage, salamis, figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd, sauerkraut, yogurt, papaya products, meat tenderizers, fava bean pods, protein extracts, yeast extracts, and dietary supplements.

Caffeine may also precipitate hypertensive crisis so its intake should be minimized as well.

At least 14 days should elapse following discontinuation of MAOI therapy before these foods may be consumed.

Specially designed reference materials and dietary consultation are recommended so that an appropriate and safe diet can be planned.

Patients should be advised to promptly seek medical attention if they experience potential signs and symptoms of a hypertensive crisis such as severe headache, visual disturbances, difficulty thinking, stupor or coma, seizures, chest pain, unexplained nausea or vomiting, and stroke-like symptoms.

Patients should also be counseled not to use MAOIs with alcohol, and to avoid hazardous activities requiring complete mental alertness and motor coordination until they know how these agents affect them.