How Do Anthracenedione Antineoplastics Work?

Anthracenedione antineoplastics are a class of drugs used to treat leukemia (cancer of the blood and bone marrow). They are used together with steroid medications to relieve pain in people with advanced prostate cancer who do not respond to other medications. They are also used to treat various forms of multiple sclerosis (a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, i.e., the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves), such as:

• Relapsing-remitting forms (course of disease where symptoms flare up from time to time)
• Progressive relapsing forms (course of disease with occasional relapses)
• Secondary progressive forms (course of disease where relapses occur more frequently)

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive, autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. It is characterized by symptoms such as:

• Weakness
• Vision problems
• Numbness and tingling sensation
• Loss of coordination
• Problems with speech and bladder control
• Sexual dysfunction

Anthracenedione antineoplastics are administered intravenously (into a vein) once every three months for approximately two to three years (for a total of 8 to 12 doses).

Anthracenedione antineoplastics work in the following ways:

• Slowing or stopping the growth of certain cells, including cancer cells and cells that affect the body's natural defenses.
• Treating multiple sclerosis by stopping certain cells of the immune system from reaching the brain and spinal cord and causing damage.
• Inhibiting topoisomerase II, an enzyme responsible for uncoiling and repairing damaged DNA.

Anthracenedione antineoplastics are used to treat conditions such as:

• Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, i.e., the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves)
• Acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (a progressive malignant disease in which too many immature white blood cells are found in the bone marrow and blood)
• Prostate cancer
• Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (a diverse group of aggressive lymphomas that develop from mature-stage white blood cells called T-cells)

Some of the common side effects of anthracenedione antineoplastics include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Heartburn
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Headache
• Unusual tiredness
• Back pain

Other rare side effects include:

• Dizziness (feeling faint, weak, or unsteady)
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Alopecia (an autoimmune disorder that results in unpredictable, patchy hair loss)
• Abnormal liver function test

Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of anthracenedione antineoplastics include:

• Mitoxantrone
• Novantrone