Dacarbazine is an anticancer medication that works by interfering with the growth of cancer cells. Although the exact way it works is not completely understood, there are three main theories:

It may inhibit DNA synthesis by acting as a purine analog, which means it mimics certain building blocks of DNA and disrupts the cancer cell's ability to replicate its genetic material.
It may act as an alkylating agent, which means it adds certain chemical groups to DNA, causing damage that prevents the cancer cells from dividing and growing.
It may interact with specific chemical groups (SH groups) within cells, further disrupting their normal function.

After administration, dacarbazine is distributed throughout the body, likely concentrating in tissues such as the liver. It is broken down and eliminated mainly through the kidneys. By damaging the DNA of rapidly dividing cells, dacarbazine helps slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

dacarbazine

Common brand names

Approved use in