Anthracycline

Anthracyclines are antibiotics isolated from Streptomyces species, which are used in chemotherapy as cytotoxic agents against various cancers.

Anthracyclines act, among other things, by binding to topoisomerase IIα. Topoisomerase IIα is a key enzyme in cell division. In addition, anthracyclines intercalate into DNA, thereby preventing further nucleic acid synthesis. Another mechanism of action is that by biotransformation free radicals capable of generating double strand breaks in DNA. Further is increased by binding of the anthracycline to the cell membrane whose permeability and fluidity, leading to increased death of the affected cell. Due to the rapid growth of cancer cells, they are anthracycline more distorted than healthy cells. However, healthy cells are attacked, which can lead to serious, sometimes irreversible side effects such as disorders of the bone marrow and especially of the heart, there is a risk of cardiomyopathy with irreversible heart failure.

Among the anthracyclines include, for example, epirubicin, idarubicin, doxorubicin and daunorubicin.