Doxorubicin: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Effect

Title: Doxorubicin: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Effect

Volume: 16 Issue: 25

Author(s): Cristina Carvalho, Renato X. Santos, Susana Cardoso, Sonia Correia, Paulo J. Oliveira, Maria S. Santos and Paula I. Moreira

Affiliation:

Keywords: Brain, doxorubicin, heart, kidney, liver, therapeutic effects, side effects

Abstract: The anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) is widely used in chemotherapy due to its efficacy in fighting a wide range of cancers such as carcinomas, sarcomas and hematological cancers. Despite extensive clinical utilization, the mechanisms of action of DOX remain under intense debate. A growing body of evidence supports the view that this drug can be a double-edge sword. Indeed, injury to nontargeted tissues often complicates cancer treatment by limiting therapeutic dosages of DOX and diminishing the quality of patients life during and after DOX treatment. The literature shows that the heart is a preferential target of DOX toxicity. However, this anticancer drug also affects other organs like the brain, kidney and liver. This review is mainly devoted to discuss the mechanisms underlying not only DOX beneficial effects but also its toxic outcomes. Additionally, clinical studies focusing the therapeutic efficacy and side effects of DOX treatment will be discussed. Finally, some potential strategies to attenuate DOX-induced toxicity will be debated.

Cite this article as:

Carvalho Cristina, Santos X. Renato, Cardoso Susana, Correia Sonia, Oliveira J. Paulo, Santos S. Maria and Moreira I. Paula, Doxorubicin: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly Effect, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2009; 16 (25) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986709788803312