What Is Doxorubicin Used For?

Doxorubicin is prescribed for treating several types of cancer, including certain types of leukemia, breast cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and lung cancer. While doxorubicin can kill both healthy and cancerous cells, it has a greater effect on the cancer cells because they multiply more rapidly. Some off-label doxorubicin uses can include treating other types of cancer that the medication has not been approved to treat.

What Is Doxorubicin Used For?

Doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin®, Doxil®) is a prescription medication used to treat various types of cancer. It is part of a group of medications called anthracyclines. Doxorubicin is used to treat many different types of cancer, such as:
 

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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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;
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