Adriamycin
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Generic name.
Doxorubicin
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| Family.
Anthracyclines
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| Source.
Streptomyces peucetius
(Actinobacteria)
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Mechanism of
action.
- Inhibition of topoisomerase II.
- Production of oxygen free radicals.
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| Cancer
treatment.
Breast cancer, Leukemia, Lymphoma, Sarcoma, Gastric cancer, Thyroid cancer
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Side effects.
- Cardiotoxicity. Cardiac toxicity,
especially congestive heart failure,
increases with higher cumulative dose of
doxorubicin. Patients with moderate or
severe heart failure shouldn't be
treated with doxorubicin.
- Myelosuppression. Decrease in blood
cell counts, especially white blood cell
count, leading to increased
susceptibility to infections.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Alopecia. Hair loss is very common
side effect.
- Extravasation associated tissue
damage. Doxorubicin can produce necrosis
of skin and soft tissues if it leak from
the venous catheter. Treatment of
extravasations include dexrasoxane (IV)
and topical DMSO.
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Administration.
Intravenous infusion, most protocols once
in 3 weeks.
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Another information.
The color of adriamycin is orange. A
change in urine color to orange may be
noticed.
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References.
- Devita VT. et al. Cancer Principles
& Practice of Oncology. Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins. 8TH Edition (2008).
- Singal PK. Iliskovic N. Doxorubicin
induced cardiomyopathy. N Engl J
Med. 339: 900-905 (1998).
To read this article press here.
- Mouridsen HT. et al.
Treatment of anthracycline extravasation
with Savene (dexrazoxane): results from
two prospective clinical multicentre
studies. Annals of Oncology 18:546-550
(2007).
To read this article press here.
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