Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy drug used to treat many different forms of cancer. It works by interfering with the function of DNA in rapidly dividing cells. Cancer cells divide particularly rapidly, and doxorubicin can cause them to die. However, certain types of normal body cells also divide rapidly; doxorubicin damages them as well. This leads to a variety of possible side effects, including hair loss, digestive problems, reduced immunity, excessive bruising or bleeding, anemia, mouth sores and male infertility. Doxorubicin can also damage the heart and kidneys, apparently by interfering with the action of the mitochondria in heart cells. (Mitochondria are the energy-producing subunits of cells.)

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Antioxidants

Possible Helpful Interactions

It is hypothesized that many of the side effects of doxorubicin occur through the production of free radicals, dangerous substances that can harm many cells. Antioxidants]]> scavenge or quench free radicals. On this basis, a number of antioxidants have been proposed as a treatment for reducing doxorubicin toxicity. Unfortunately, while some evidence of benefit has been seen in animal studies, at present there is inadequate supporting evidence from human trials.

For example, while ]]>vitamin E]]> has shown promise for preventing cardiac toxicity in animal studies, it has persistently failed to prove effective in people. ]]>9-12]]>

The supplement ]]>melatonin]]> has also shown some promise in animal studies for reducing the cardiac toxicity of doxorubicin; however, the only human trials supporting this use fall considerably beneath modern scientific standards. ]]>1-8]]>

According to animal studies, ]]>lycopene]]> might help protect the heart and also shield developing sperm cells from injury (thereby reducing ]]>male infertility]]> ); ]]>13-15]]> the herbal extract ]]>curcumin]]> might help prevent damage to the heart and kidneys; ]]>19,20]]>]]>n-acetyl cysteine]]> might help protect the heart and also reduce hair loss; ]]>21-22]]>]]>lipoic acid]]>]]>16-17]]> and ]]>coenzyme Q10]]>]]>18]]> might protect the heart. However, for all of these antioxidants, support from human trials is lacking. One animal study hints at potential heart- and liver-protective effects with the supplement ]]>carnitine]]> . ]]>23]]>