Dexrazoxane (ICRF-187)

1. Dexrazoxane (ICRF-187) is the only clinically approved drug for use in cancer patients to prevent anthracycline mediated cardiotoxicity. 2. The mode of action appears to be mainly due to the potential of the drug to remove iron from iron/anthracycline complexes and thus reduce free radical formation by these complexes. 3. Dexrazoxane also influences cell biology by its ability to inhibit topoisomerase II and its effects on the regulation of cellular iron homeostasis. 4. Although the cardioprotective effect of dexrazoxane in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy with anthracyclines is well documented, the potential of this drug to modulate topoisomerase II activity and cellular iron metabolism may hold the key for future applications of dexrazoxane in cancer therapy, immunology, or infectious diseases.