Decitabine

White to off-white powder. Soluble in DMSO (30mg/ml), DMF (20mg/ml) or water (1mg/ml). Chemical. CAS: 2353-33-5. Formula: C8H12N4O4. MW: 228.21. Decitabine is an epigenetic modifier that inhibits DNA methyltransferase activity which results in DNA demethylation (hypomethylation) and gene activation by remodeling "opening" chromatin. This cytosine analog incorporates into DNA, inhibit DNA methyltransferases, and cause hypomethylation of cytosine residues in the absence of any significant mutagenic effects. Decitabine is a potent antileukaemic agent with activity in the treatment of haematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (preleukaemia) and has been suggested to reverse chemotherapy resistance in several cancer types. It is used as a chemotherapeutic agent, suppresses growth of human tumor cell lines, shown to reverse embryonic stem cell differentiation and prevent atherosclerosis lesion formation and reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages.