What is doxorubicin? How does it interact with other drugs?

Antioxidants

Effect: Possible Helpful Interactions

It is hypothesized that many of the side effects of doxorubicin occur through
the production of free radicals, dangerous substances that can harm many
cells. Antioxidants scavenge or quench free radicals. On this
basis, a number of antioxidants have been proposed as a treatment for reducing
doxorubicin toxicity. While some evidence of benefit has been seen in animal
studies, at present there is inadequate supporting evidence from human trials. For
example, while vitamin E has shown promise for preventing cardiac toxicity
in animal studies, it has persistently failed to prove effective in people.

The supplement melatonin has also shown some promise in animal studies for reducing the cardiac toxicity of doxorubicin; however, the only human trials supporting this use fall considerably beneath modern scientific standards.

According to animal studies, lycopene might help protect the heart
and also shield developing sperm cells from injury (thereby reducing male
infertility); the herbal extract curcumin might help prevent damage to the heart
and kidneys; N-acetylcysteine might help protect the heart and also reduce hair
loss; lipoic
acid and coenzyme Q10 might protect the heart.
However, for all of these antioxidants, support from human trials is lacking. One
animal study hints at potential heart- and liver-protective effects with the
supplement carnitine.

Bibliography

Balli, E., et al. “Effect of Melatonin on the Cardiotoxicity of Doxorubicin.” Histology and Histopathology 19 (2004): 1101-1108.

Berthiaume, J. M., et al. “Dietary Vitamin E Decreases Doxorubicin-Induced Oxidative Stress Without Preventing Mitochondrial Dysfunction.” Cardiovascular Toxicology 5 (2005): 257-267.

Karimi, G., M. Ramezani, and A. Abdi. “Protective Effects of Lycopene and Tomato Extract Against Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity.” Phytotherapy Research 19 (2005): 912-914.

Kim, C., et al. “Modulation by Melatonin of the Cardiotoxic and Antitumor Activities of Adriamycin.” Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 46 (2005): 200-210.

Oz, E., and M. N. Ilhan. “Effects of Melatonin in Reducing the Toxic Effects of Doxorubicin.” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 286 (2006): 11-15.

Oz, E., et al. “Prevention of Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity by Melatonin.” Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 282 (2005): 31-37.

Yilmaz, S., et al. “Protective Effect of Lycopene on Adriamycin-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity.” Toxicology 218 (2005): 164-171.