Structures of doxorubicin, epirubicin and MEN 10755. These processes eventually favour iron-catalysed formation of hydroxyl radicals or similar reactive species able to induce oxidative damage ( Singal & Iliskovic, 1998 Minotti et al., 1999).

−) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2O 2) while also releasing iron from ferritin.One-electron redox cycling of the quinone moiety, mediated by NAD(P)H oxidoreductases of intracellular organelles, may contribute to inducing cardiotoxicity by converting oxygen to reactive species like superoxide anion (O 2

The aglycone, called doxorubicinone, is composed of a quinone-containing tetracyclic ring, and of a short side chain with a carbonyl group at C-13 and a primary alcohol at C-14 the sugar, called daunosamine, is attached by a glycosidic bond to C-7 of the tetracyclic ring, and consists of a 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy- L-fucosyl moiety. As shown in Figure 1, DOX is composed of aglyconic and sugar moieties. The mechanisms of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity remain a matter of debate, but some peculiar structure – activity relations have been clarified. Clinical use of the anticancer anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by the possible development of progressive cardiomyopathy, especially when the cumulative dose reaches or exceeds ∼500–550 mg m −2 ( Singal & Iliskovic, 1998 Minotti et al., 1999).

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