title: Dexrazoxane : a review of its use for cardioprotection during anthracycline chemotherapy.
abstract: Dexrazoxane (Cardioxane, Zinecard, a cyclic derivative of edetic acid, is a site-specific cardioprotective agent that effectively protects against anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity. Dexrazoxane is approved in the US and some European countries for cardioprotection in women with advanced and/or metastatic breast cancer receiving doxorubicin; in other countries dexrazoxane is approved for use in a wider range of patients with advanced cancer receiving anthracyclines. As shown in clinical trials, intravenous dexrazoxane significantly reduces the incidence of anthracycline-induced congestive heart failure (CHF) and adverse cardiac events in women with advanced breast cancer or adults with soft tissue sarcomas or small-cell lung cancer, regardless of whether the drug is given before the first dose of anthracycline or the administration is delayed until cumulative doxorubicin dose is > or =300 mg/m2. The drug also appears to offer cardioprotection irrespective of pre-existing cardiac risk factors. Importantly, the antitumour efficacy of anthracyclines is unlikely to be altered by dexrazoxane use, although the drug has not been shown to improve progression-free and overall patient survival. At present, the cardioprotective efficacy of dexrazoxane in patients with childhood malignancies is supported by limited data. The drug is generally well tolerated and has a tolerability profile similar to that of placebo in cancer patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy, with the exception of a higher incidence of severe leukopenia (78% vs 68%; p < 0.01). Dexrazoxane is the only cardioprotective agent with proven efficacy in cancer patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy and is a valuable option for the prevention of cardiotoxicity in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@adis.co.nz
authors.forename: Risto S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.forename: Lesley J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011929:Razoxane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D011929:Razoxane