Last reviewed · How we verify
Liposome doxorubicin
Liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin delivers the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin to cancer cells while reducing exposure to healthy tissues, thereby improving tolerability.
Liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin delivers the chemotherapy agent doxorubicin to cancer cells while reducing exposure to healthy tissues, thereby improving tolerability. Used for Metastatic breast cancer, Ovarian cancer, Multiple myeloma.
At a glance
| Generic name | Liposome doxorubicin |
|---|---|
| Also known as | liposome adriamycin, Caelyx |
| Sponsor | Sun Yat-sen University |
| Drug class | Liposomal chemotherapy; topoisomerase II inhibitor |
| Target | DNA topoisomerase II |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
Doxorubicin is a topoisomerase II inhibitor that intercalates into DNA and prevents DNA replication in rapidly dividing cells. By encapsulating doxorubicin in liposomes, the formulation preferentially accumulates in tumor tissues through the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, reducing cardiotoxicity and other systemic toxicities associated with free doxorubicin while maintaining anti-tumor efficacy.
Approved indications
- Metastatic breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Multiple myeloma
- Kaposi sarcoma
Common side effects
- Myelosuppression (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Mucositis
- Alopecia
- Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (hand-foot syndrome)
- Cardiotoxicity (reduced vs. free doxorubicin)
Key clinical trials
- Durvalumab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, DURVA+ Trial (PHASE2)
- Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin Hydrochloride With Atezolizumab and/or Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Recurrent Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Virotherapy and Natural History Study of KHSV-Associated Multricentric Castleman s Disease With Correlates of Disease Activity (PHASE2)
- Testing Low-Dose Common Chemotherapy (Liposomal Doxorubicin) in Combination With an Anti-Cancer Drug, Peposertib, in Advanced Sarcoma (PHASE1)
- A Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan (MK-2870) as a Single Agent and in Combination With Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Treatment of Physician's Choice in Participants With HR+/HER2- Unresectable Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer (MK-2870-010) (PHASE3)
- Disulfiram With Copper Gluconate and Liposomal Doxorubicin in Treatment-Refractory Sarcomas (PHASE1)
- A Clinical Study of Patritumab Deruxtecan to Treat Breast Cancer (MK-1022-016) (PHASE3)
- A Study Combining the Peposertib (M3814) Pill With Standard Chemotherapy in Patients With Ovarian Cancer With an Expansion in High Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer and Low Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Liposome doxorubicin CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Liposome doxorubicin updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Sun Yat-sen University portfolio CI