How Do Antineoplastic Anthracyclines Work?

Antineoplastic anthracyclines are a class of drugs used to treat various cancers, including leukemia (acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia), lymphomas, cancers of the breast, stomach, uterus, ovary, bladder, and lungs, Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer of the lymphatic system), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer that begins in the cells of the immune system).

Antineoplastic anthracyclines are administered as a solution (liquid) and injected intravenously (into a vein).

Antineoplastic anthracyclines work in the following ways:

• As an anthracycline type of chemotherapy for treating several types of cancers.
• Slowing down or stopping the growth of certain cells, including cancer cells and cells that affect the body's natural defenses.

Antineoplastic anthracyclines are used to treat conditions such as:

• Cancers:
  • Breast
  • Ovary
  • Prostate
  • Stomach
  • Bladder
  • Thyroid
  • Small cell cancer of the lungs
  • Liver
• Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck
• Hodgkin's disease: cancer of the lymphatic system, a part of the immune system.
• Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: cancer that originates in the cells of the immune system.
• Kaposi sarcoma: cancer that develops from the cells that line the lymph or blood vessels.
• Multiple myeloma: cancer that forms in a type of white blood cell called plasma cell.
• Soft tissue or bone sarcomas: cancers that form in the muscles and bones
• Neuroblastoma: cancer that originates in the nerve cells and occurs mainly in children.
• Wilms' tumor: a type of kidney cancer that occurs in children.
• Leukemia:
  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia: a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
  • Acute myeloid leukemia: a type of cancer that develops in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow

Some of the common side effects of antineoplastic anthracyclines include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation
• Headache
• Sores in the mouth and throat
• Weakness
• Back pain
• Unusual tiredness
• Eye pain

Other rare side effects include:

• Dizziness (feeling faint, weak, or unsteady)
• Blood in urine
• Increased thirst
• Hair loss
• Hot flashes
• Darkening of the skin or nails
• Difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• Thrombocytopenia (low blood platelet count)
• Arrhythmia (a condition in which the heart beats with an irregular or abnormal rhythm)
• Cardiomyopathy (a condition that affects the heart muscles)

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of antineoplastic anthracyclines include:

• Adriamycin
• Caelyx
• Cerubidine
• Cytarabine/daunorubicin liposomal
• Daunorubicin
• Doxil
• Doxorubicin
• Doxorubicin liposomal
• Ellence
• Epirubicin
• Idamycin
• Idarubicin
• Lipodox
• Myocet
• Pharmorubicin
• Rubex
• Valrubicin
• Valstar
• Vyxeos