In: Biology
Doxorubicin is anthracycline antibiotic with antineoplstic or anticancer properties that used in treatment of cancer. Normal Doxorubicin is nonliposomal preparation that is less available or soluble or absorbed when administered. Doxorubicin hydrochloride is liposomal preparation and hydrochloride salt that can be readily asorbed in the blood when administered intravenously through 5% dextrose or 0.9% NaCl.
The antibiotic Doxorubicin is synthesized using Streptomyces peucetius var. caesius, is the hydroxylated congener of daunorubicin. Doxorubicin destructs DNA replication and protein synthesis by intercalating basepairs of DNA double helix. It is also known to inhibit the topoisomerase II that unwinds the DNA helix. Another mechanism exhibited by doxorubicin is formation of oxygen freeradicals after lipid peroxidation in cells and thereby becomes cytotoxic to cells. The oxygen free radicals formed cause cardiac and cutaneous vascular effects. This drug doxorubicin used in treatment of various types of cancers like breast cancer, bladder cancer, Kaposi's sarcoma, lymphoma, and acute lymphocytic leukemia etc along with other chemotherapeutic drugs.