Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Injection

• Type: Chemotherapy medication

• Drug Class: Anthracycline antineoplastic agent

• Form: Sterile solution or lyophilized powder for intravenous (IV) infusion

How It Works

• Doxorubicin works by intercalating between DNA base pairs, preventing DNA replication and transcription.

• It also inhibits topoisomerase II, an enzyme essential for unwinding DNA during cell division.

• Generates free radicals that damage cell membranes and DNA, leading to cancer cell death.

Common Uses

Doxorubicin is widely used in combination chemotherapy regimens for many cancers, including:

• Breast cancer (adjuvant and metastatic)

• Lymphomas (Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s)

• Leukemias (acute lymphoblastic leukemia, AML)

• Sarcomas (bone and soft-tissue)

• Bladder cancer (sometimes instilled intravesically)

• Other solid tumors (ovarian, gastric, thyroid, etc.)

Advantages

• Very effective in rapidly killing dividing cancer cells

• A cornerstone drug in many standard chemotherapy regimens (e.g., CHOP for lymphoma, AC for breast cancer)

• Can be combined with other drugs for synergistic effect

Possible Side Effects

Common:

• Bone marrow suppression (low white blood cells, anemia, thrombocytopenia)

• Hair loss (alopecia)

• Nausea, vomiting, mouth sores

• Red or orange urine for 1–2 days after infusion (harmless)

Serious:

• Cardiotoxicity – risk of heart muscle damage, especially with high cumulative doses

• Severe tissue damage if drug leaks outside the vein (extravasation)

• Secondary leukemia (very rare, with prolonged use)

Precautions

• Heart function tests (echocardiogram or MUGA scan) are done before starting and sometimes during treatment

• Maximum lifetime cumulative dose must not be exceeded to prevent irreversible heart damage

• Administered only via slow IV infusion by trained healthcare professionals

• Patients should be monitored for signs of infection, bleeding, or heart problems during treatment