Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride 65271-80-9

Uses

It is used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, mostly metastatic breast cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was also shown to improve the survival of children suffering from first relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The combination of mitoxantrone and prednisone is approved as a second-line treatment for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. This combination has been the first line of treatment, until recently, when combination of docetaxel and prednisone has been shown to improve survival and disease-free period. Mitoxantrone is also used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), most notably the subset known as secondary progressive MS. Mitoxantrone will not cure multiple sclerosis, but is effective in slowing the progression of secondary progressive MS and extending the time between relapses in relapsing-remitting MS and progressive relapsing MS.

Mechanism of action

Mitoxantrone is a type II topoisomerase inhibitor; it disrupts DNA synthesis and DNA repair in both healthy cells and cancer cells. It also engages in intercalation.

Side effects

As other drugs in its class, mitoxantrone may cause several adverse reactions of varying severity, such as nausea, vomiting, hair loss, heart damage, and immunosuppression. Some side effects may have delayed onset. Cardiomyopathy is a particularly concerning effect as it is irreversible; regular monitoring with echocardiograms or MUGA scans is recommended for people taking mitoxantrone. The medication carries a total lifetime dose based on body surface area.