Doxorubicin is approved to treat several types of cancer, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. The drug is administered intravenously at your healthcare provider's office, a hospital, or an infusion center. The dose of doxorubicin your healthcare provider prescribes will vary depending on several factors, such as your weight and height, other medical conditions you have, the type of cancer being treated, and other medications you are taking. Although most people tolerate the medication well, there are possible side effects, such as weight gain, nausea, and hair loss.
Doxorubicin hydrochloride (
Adriamycin®, Doxil
®) is a prescription medication used to treat various types of cancer. This includes
breast cancer,
lung cancer, and
ovarian cancer, to name a few. It is part of a group of chemotherapy medications called anthracyclines.
Doxorubicin is currently made by Bedford Laboratories.
How Does Doxorubicin Work?
Doxorubicin is part of a group of medications called anthracyclines. Anthracyclines kill cells (including cancer cells and normal cells) by working in several ways. Doxorubicin binds to DNA in cells, changing the shape of the DNA and causing other problems with the DNA. Doxorubicin can damage the membranes (outer coating) of cells and may damage other parts of cells as well.
While doxorubicin can kill both healthy and cancerous cells, it has a greater effect on cells that are multiplying rapidly. Generally, cancer cells multiply more rapidly than healthy cells, and are therefore more affected by doxorubicin.
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