Daunorubicin: profile and news

Select AIDS, cancer drugs to become cheaper Mar 2, 2006
Some of the cancer drugs expected to see a downward price revision are cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, danazol, daunorubicin HCL, etoposide, flutamide ... - Moneycontrol.com,

Anthracyclines Linked with Damage to Blood Vessels Feb 24, 2006
These drugs, which include doxorubicin and daunorubicin, are used to treat a variety of cancers, including Hodgkin’s lymphoma, sarcomas, and breast cancer. ... - Cancer Consultants (press release),

The importance of coenzyme Q10 Feb 19, 2006
Possible drug interactions include the following:Daunorubicin and Doxorubicin (chemotherapy agents) - CoQ10 may reduce the toxic effects on the heart; blood ... - Zanesville Times Recorder,

Other information

Indication
For remission induction in acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (myelogenous, monocytic, erythroid) of adults and for remission induction in acute lymphocytic leukemia of children and adults

Pharmacology
Daunorubicin is an antineoplastic in the anthracycline class. General properties of drugs in this class include: interaction with DNA in a variety of different ways including intercalation (squeezing between the base pairs), DNA strand breakage and inhibition with the enzyme topoisomerase II. Most of these compounds have been isolated from natural sources and antibiotics. However, they lack the specificity of the antimicrobial antibiotics and thus produce significant toxicity. The anthracyclines are among the most important antitumor drugs available. Doxorubicin is widely used for the treatment of several solid tumors while daunorubicin and idarubicin are used exclusively for the treatment of leukemia. Daunorubicin may also inhibit polymerase activity, affect regulation of gene expression, and produce free radical damage to DNA. Daunorubicin possesses an antitumor effect against a wide spectrum of tumors, either grafted or spontaneous. The anthracyclines are cell cycle-nonspecific.

Mechanism Of Action
Daunorubicin has antimitotic and cytotoxic activity through a number of proposed mechanisms of action: Daunorubicin forms complexes with DNA by intercalation between base pairs, and it inhibits topoisomerase II activity by stabilizing the DNA-topoisomerase II complex, preventing the religation portion of the ligation-religation reaction that topoisomerase II catalyzes.

Drug Category
Antibiotics; Antineoplastic Agents; ATC:L01DB02

Brand Names/Synonyms
Acetyladriamycin; Anthracyline; Antibiotics From Streptomyces Coeruleorubidus; CCRIS 914; Cerubidin; Cerubidine; DM1; DRG-0155; Daunamycin; Daunarubicinum; Daunoblastin; Daunomycin; Daunomycin Hydrochloride; Daunomycin, Hydrochloride; Daunorrubicina; Daunorubicin; Daunorubicin Hcl; Daunorubicin Hydrochloride; Daunorubicin, Hydrochloride; Daunorubicine; Daunorubicinum [Inn-Latin]; Daunoxome; FI6339; HSDB 5095; Leukaemomycin C; Ondena; RUBIDOMYCIN; Rcra Waste No. U059; Rp 13057 Hydrochloride; Rubidomycin Hydrochloride; Rubomycin C; VS-103

Dosage Forms
POWDER FOR SOLUTION; SUSPENSION

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
Interactions for Daunorubicin:

Use of Cerubidine in a patient who has previously received doxorubicin increases the risk of cardiotoxicity. Cerubidine should not be used in patients who have previously received the recommended maximum cumulative doses of doxorubicin or Cerubidine. Cyclophosphamide used concurrently with Cerubidine may also result in increased cardiotoxicity.

Dosage reduction of Cerubidine may be required when used concurrently with other myelosuppressive agents.

Hepatotoxic medications, such as high-dose methotrexate, may impair liver function and increase the risk of toxicity.

Chemical IUPAC Name
8-acetyl-10-(4-amino-5-hydroxy-6-methyl-tetrahydropyran-2-yl)oxy-6,8,11-trihydroxy-1-methoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrotetracene-5,12-dione

Chemical Formula
C27H29NO10

Half Life
18.5 hours

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00521

CAS Registry Number
20830-81-3