Mitoxantrone

Abstract

Mitoxantrone (Fig. 1) was developed in the 1970s and is an antineoplastic agent. It is an anthracenedione derivative related to the anthracyclins doxorubicine and daunorubicine. It interacts with topoisomerase-2, stabilizes its cleavable complex with DNA, thus prevents the ligation of DNA strands, and consecutively delays the cell-cycle progression (1). Mitoxantrone is used to effectively treat malignancies such as breast and advanced prostate cancer, lymphoma, and leukemia (2). Furthermore, in common with other antineoplastic agents, strong immunosuppressive properties of mitoxantrone have been observed providing a rationale for its use in autoimmune disorders (3-6).