Doxorubicin is a clinically approved anthracycline chemotherapeutic and a reference standard control drug used in cytotoxicity assays, including MTT-based testing. Its primary mechanism in the provided literature is to induce reactive oxygen species, which enhances apoptosis and contributes to genotoxic stress and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells. It is used across several cancer settings, including triple negative breast cancer, lung cancer/nsclc, hepatocellular carcinoma models, and SMARCB1-deficient renal medullary carcinoma, often in combination regimens or drug-delivery platforms. Recent advances emphasize improved efficacy through nanocarriers and hybrid systems, such as Cu2+-coordinated paeoniflorin/doxorubicin biocomplexes, dual-targeting aptamer-drug hybrids, and inhalable tumor-cell carriers for sustained release. Mechanistically, sensitivity to doxorubicin increased after nup205 knockdown, and it was also paired with ixazomib, gemcitabine, and KK2269 in combination studies. Overall, the literature highlights doxorubicin as a broadly used benchmark cytotoxic agent whose antitumor activity can be potentiated by targeting resistance pathways and optimizing delivery.
Cancer
- Doxorubicin served as the reference standard drug in an MTT cytotoxicity assay, reinforcing its role as a benchmark control compound. (PMID:41673348)
- In triple negative breast cancer, doxorubicin was used in the AC neoadjuvant regimen for orthotopic patient-derived xenografts and breast cancer cells. (PMID:41931605)
- nup205 knockdown improved sensitivity to doxorubicin in HepG2 cells, consistent with NUP205 being linked to resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic agents. (PMID:41898718)
- Doxorubicin was incorporated into a Cu2+-coordinated paeoniflorin/doxorubicin biocomplex to enhance apoptosis in lung cancer cells. (PMID:41810719)
Delivery and Chemoimmunotherapy
- Dualo-mvApDHsD/S codelivered doxorubicin to induce genotoxic stress and immunogenic cell death in tumor cells, supporting synergistic chemo-immunotherapy. (PMID:41973478)
- Inhalable cryo-shocked tumor cells were used as carriers for doxorubicin, enabling sustained release and superior tumor suppression in lung cancer and nsclc models. (PMID:41947504)
- Doxorubicin was combined with ixazomib and gemcitabine in a phase II study for SMARCB1-deficient renal medullary carcinoma. (PMID:42007903)
- Doxorubicin showed significant antitumor activity in combination with KK2269, indicating benefit from combination therapy. (PMID:41989931)