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Definition

Dactinomycin is a chemotherapeutic agent belonging to a family of medicines known as antineoplastic drugs. Alternative trade names or brand names for dactinomycin include Actinomycin-D and Cosmegen.

Description

Dactinomycin is one of the older chemotherapy drugs, having gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. This highly potent and effective cytotoxic agent is a mixture of substances produced by the bacteria Streptomyces parvullus. Its toxic properties prevent its use as an antibiotic.

Dactinomycin interferes with the growth of cancer cells by complexing with a cell's genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA). This prevents the cell from producing...