Amsacrine is a cytotoxic agent used to induce remission in acute adult leukemia that is not adequately responsive to other agents. Aminoacridine derivative that is a potent intercalating antineoplastic agent.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Amsacrine binds to DNA through intercalation and external binding. It has a base specificity for A-T pairs. Rapidly dividing cells are two to four times more sensitive to amsacrine than are resting cells. Amsacrine appears to cleave DNA by inducing double stranded breaks. Amsacrine also targets and inhibits topoisomerase II. Cytotoxicity is greatest during the S phase of the cell cycle when topoisomerase levels are at a maximum.
- Primary indication
- For treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia.Curator reviewed · 1 structured indication
- Formula / weight
- C21H19N3O3S · 393.459 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2022
- Also known as
- Acridinyl anisidide · m-AMSA · mAMSA
- Code names
- CI-880 · CL-880 · NSC-156303 · NSC-249992 · SN-11841 · SN-21429
Resolves to
XCPGHVQEEXUHNC-UHFFFAOYSA-NSMILESCOC1=C(NC2=C3C=CC=CC3=NC3=CC=CC=C23)C=CC(NS(C)(=O)=O)=C1What you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
Which drugs share a target with Amsacrine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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