azacitidine + hematopoietic growth factors

Azacitidine + hematopoietic growth factors is a combination therapy consisting of azacitidine, a hypomethylating agent and antineoplastic drug, with one or more hematopoietic growth factors (such as erythropoietin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor [G-CSF], or similar agents). Azacitidine acts primarily by incorporating into DNA and RNA of abnormal hematopoietic cells in the bone marrow, leading to inhibition of DNA methyltransferase, hypomethylation of DNA, disruption of RNA metabolism and protein synthesis, and ultimately cell death. Hematopoietic growth factors are biologics that stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of blood cell precursors in the bone marrow to counteract cytopenias (anemia, neutropenia) caused by myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression, or other causes. The combination is used to enhance therapeutic efficacy in conditions such as MDS by both targeting malignant cells (azacitidine) and supporting normal blood cell production (growth factors)[7][9].