What is Doxorubicin?

Doxorubicin (also known by the trade name Adriamycin) is an anthracycline antibiotic chemotherapy medication used to treat a wide range of cancers. It is commonly used to treat breast cancer, bladder cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.Doxorubicin's use is often limited by its cardiotoxic effects, which include heart failure and cardiomyopathy. These effects are cumulative, meaning that the risk increases with each dose. Other side effects include myelosuppression, alopecia, nausea, and vomiting.

Doxorubicin works by intercalating DNA and inhibiting topoisomerase II, which are essential for DNA replication and transcription.

Clinical use:

Doxorubicin is commonly used in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents as part of a multi-drug regimen. Some specific examples of its use include:

* Breast cancer: Doxorubicin is often used in combination with cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil (AC or FAC regimen) as neoadjuvant therapy (before surgery) or adjuvant therapy (after surgery) for locally advanced or high-risk breast cancer. It may also be used in combination with other agents, such as paclitaxel, docetaxel, or trastuzumab, in metastatic breast cancer.

* Bladder cancer: Doxorubicin is commonly used in combination with cisplatin and methotrexate (CMV regimen) for the treatment of advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.

* Hodgkin's lymphoma: Doxorubicin is often used in combination with bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD regimen) for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma.

* Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Doxorubicin may be used in combination with other agents, such as cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP regimen), for the treatment of aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Doxorubicin is administered intravenously (IV) over a period of several minutes to hours. The dose and duration of treatment depend on the specific type of cancer being treated, the patient's overall health, and other factors.