Idarubicin or 4-demethoxydaunorubicin is an anthracycline antileukemic drug. It inserts[1] itself into DNA and prevents DNA unwinding by interfering with the enzyme topoisomerase II. It is an analog of daunorubicin, but the absence of a methoxy group increases its fat solubility and cellular uptake.[2] Similar to other anthracyclines, it also induces histone eviction from chromatin.[3]
It belongs to the family of drugs called antitumor antibiotics.
It is currently combined with cytosine arabinoside as a first line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia.[4]
It is used for treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia in blast crisis.[5]
It is distributed under the trade names Zavedos (UK) and Idamycin (USA).
Side effects
Diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting are common among patients treated with idarubicin.[6]
External links
- Idarubicin bound to proteins in the PDB
References
- Studies directed towards anthracyclinone syntheses: The use of d-glucose as a chiral auxiliary in asymmetric Diels–Alder reactions J. Saudi Chem. Soc., 2013^
- Idamycin Package insert Pfizer, January 2006^
- Drug-induced histone eviction from open chromatin contributes to the chemotherapeutic effects of doxorubicin Nature Communications, 2013^