盐酸阿霉素是从细菌培养得到的半合成抗癌药 [1]。它是一种蒽环类抗生素，被广泛地应用于血癌，实体瘤和肉瘤。Doxorubicin hydrochloride嵌入到DNA双链，抑制DNA拓扑异构酶II的前行，停止复制过程 [2]。Doxorubicin hydrochloride也能从开放的染色质上驱逐组蛋白，引起DNA损伤和减弱对表观遗传的控制 [3]。Doxorubicin hydrochloride通过静脉给药，约75％的盐酸阿霉素及其代谢物与血浆蛋白结合。Doxorubicin hydrochloride不能跨越血脑屏障。50％的药物保持原型被排出体外，主要通过胆汁排泄途径。剩余的部分参与单电子还原、双电子还原和去糖苷化反应。主要代谢物是一种与心肌病相关的高效膜离子泵抑制剂[4]。

参考文献：
[1] Brayfield, A, ed.  (2013). Doxorubicin. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. Pharmaceutical Press. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
[2] Pommier Y. , et al. (2010). DNA topoisomerases and their poisoning by anticancer and antibacterial drugs. Chemistry & Biology 17 (5): 421–433.
[3] Pang, B. , et al. (2013). Drug-induced histone eviction from open chromatin contributes to the chemotherapeutic effects of doxorubicin. Nature Communications 4 (5): 1908
[4] Boucek RJ. , et al. (1987). The major metabolite of doxorubicin is a potent inhibitor of membrane-associated ion pumps. A correlative study of cardiac muscle with isolated membrane fractions. J of Biol Chem 262: 15851-15856.