[Clinical pharmacology of idarubicin]

Idarubicin (IDA,4-demethoxydaunorubicin) is a new antineoplastic agent that is structurally related to daunorubicin (DNR) and has the same mechanism of action as DNR and doxorubicin (ADR). Unlike the other currently available anthracyclines, IDA has significant oral bioavailability (about 30%). Animal tumor studies have shown that it has greater antitumor activity at lower drug concentration than DNR. IDA is an effective agent for the management of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). It has achieved greater response rates than the standard anthracycline, DNR, when it is administered with cytarabine in newly diagnosed patients. IDA is also an effective agent in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, lymphomas, breast cancer and some other tumors. Adverse effects are similar to those seen with other anthracyclines, although IDA may be associated with less cardiotoxicity than ADR or DNR.