Daunorubicin

Daunorubicin is an anti-cancer drug with considerable side-effects, including damage to the heart.

Liposomal daunorubicin, a form of the drug in which the drug is encased in fatty particles called liposomes, has been approved as first-line treatment for advanced Kaposi's sarcoma. In trials, this was just as effective as standard combination chemotherapy regimes, but caused fewer side-effects. Liposomal daunorubicin has also been tested as a treatment for lymphoma which has not responded to standard treatments, and appears to have some activity. See Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in A to Z of illnesses for further details.

No heart toxicity has been seen to date with liposomal daunorubicin. Its main side-effect is bone marrow suppression. Another occasionally reported toxicity is the combination of back pain, flushing and chest tightness during the first ten minutes of infusion. This can be treated by slowing or halting the infusion and giving paracetamol for pain relief. Minor reactions include headache, fatigue, chills, ulceration in the mouth, lightheadedness, nausea and vomiting. No drug interactions have been seen.

Liposomal daunorubicin is administered at a dose of 40mg/m² every two weeks by intravenous infusion. It is manufactured under the tradename DaunoXome by NeXstar Pharmaceuticals Ltd.