Doxorubicin, the generic name of the brand-name drug, Adriamycin, is an example of a class of chemotherapeutic drug called anthracyclines. Inside cancer cells, doxorubicin binds to DNA and certain enzymes involved in the opening of DNA; interferes with the repair of modified DNA; and blocks synthesis of DNA, RNA, and proteins. Furthermore, doxorubicin treatment results in the production of toxic substances within the cancer cells.
Some women with breast cancer of Stage I and higher receive adjuvant (i.e., post-surgical) treatment with doxorubicin alone or in combination with other types of chemotherapeutic drugs. For example, some women with breast cancer of Stage IIIB and higher or recurrent breast cancer receive the combination of doxorubicin and a taxane (paclitaxel or docetaxel).
Although doxorubicin can be effective in the treatment of breast cancer, doxorubicin poses a risk of cardiotoxic side effects (i.e., severe heart problems). Therefore, limited doses of doxorubicin typically are administered to patients. Moreover, use of the cardioprotective drug, dexrazoxane, in patients receiving doxorubicin reduces the risk of cardiotoxic side effects. Nevertheless, during doxorubicin treatment, patients should be closely monitored for any heart problems.
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