The anthracycline antibiotics comprise a group of cytotoxic compounds
with wide-ranging activity against human malignancies. They are used e
xtensively for curative, adjuvant and palliative therapy, both as sing
le agents and in combination regimens. They produce a number of advers
e effects, some of which are shared by other cytotoxic drugs, The most
important adverse effect is cardiotoxicity, which is unique to this c
lass of compounds, Strategies have been devised to circumvent these ad
verse effects, including the development of less toxic analogues, alte
rations in scheduling, the addition of cardioprotectant agents and met
hods of monitoring for cardiac abnormalities.