decitabine + arsenic trioxide

Decitabine + arsenic trioxide is an investigational combination therapy consisting of two small molecule drugs, decitabine and arsenic trioxide. Decitabine is a hypomethylating agent that inhibits DNA methyltransferase, leading to DNA hypomethylation and reactivation of silenced genes involved in cell differentiation and apoptosis. Arsenic trioxide induces apoptosis through multiple mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species and modulation of various signaling pathways. The combination has been studied primarily for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), particularly in patients who are elderly or unable to tolerate intensive chemotherapy. Clinical studies suggest that this combination may improve response rates compared to single-agent therapy without significantly increasing toxicity[2][3][4].