| Active ingredients | Dosage | Special features |
| Doxorubicin | 50-60 mg/m² i. v. over 30-60 minutes | Cardiotoxicity (cardiac or myocardial damage) requires cardiac diagnostics for NW exclusion |
| Daunorubicin | 60 mg/m² i. v. over 2 h | Daunorubicin is rapidly effective and is used primarily in induction therapy of AML* |
| Epirubicin | 100 mg/m² i. v. over 30 minutes | Used especially for poor prognosis in breast carcinoma (breast cancer) |
* Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).
- Mode of action: Anthracyclines act primarily as a consequence of their binding to the enzyme topoisomerase IIα, affecting cell division primarily of tumor cells. Furthermore, anthracyclines intercalate (“block”) into DNA, thereby preventing further DNA synthesis.
- Side effects: Leukopenia (lack of white blood cells), thrombopenias (lack of platelets), nausea (nausea), vomiting, sterility, cardiotoxicity, alopecia (hair loss) – depending on the drug.
- To prevent chronic cumulative cardiotoxicity damage to the heart by an agent/drug), dexrazoxane should be taken before starting chemotherapy.
- Spironolactone is suitable for prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
- Before starting anthracycline therapy, stable cardiac pump function must be documented by echocardiography.
The effects, indications, side effects, and substances listed above represent an overview and do not claim to be complete.
