Abstract
The dose-limiting toxicity of the widely used anticancer agent, doxorubicin, is a destructive, irreversible and progressive cardiomyopathy. Prevention of this cardiotoxicity without reduction of antitumour efficacy or the production of new toxicities has therefore been a long-time therapeutic goal. It has now been largely achieved by prior administration of dexrazoxane (DXRz; Cardioxane in Europe; Zinecard in North America; ICRF 187). Six randomized, controlled clinical trials in breast and lung cancer and in soft tissue sarcomas of children have shown a 90% reduction in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. The results of all these trials lead to the conclusion that DXRz permits: (1) cardiotoxic doses of doxorubicin to be given without cardiotoxicity; (2) patients with increased cardiac risk factors to be treated with full doses of dioxorubicin; (3) second-line treatment with other cardiotoxic drugs.
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Presented in part as an invited lecture at the 7th International Symposium: Supportive Care in Cancer, Luxembourg, 20–23 September 1995
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Hellmann, K. Cardioprotection by dexrazoxane (Cardioxane; ICRF 187): Progress in supportive care. Support Care Cancer 4, 305–307 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358885
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01358885