Idarubicin

Idarubicin prevents DNA from unwinding by interfering with the enzyme topoisomerase II. Idarubicin belongs to the family called antitumor antibiotics. Idarubicin inhibits the proliferation of NALM-6 cells with an IC50 of 12 nM. Idarubicin has significant cytotoxic activity against multicellular spheroids, comparable to the antiproliferative effects on monolayer cells. Idarubicin is currently combined with cytosine arabinoside as a first line treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. Idarubicin plus Decitabine and cytarabine has entered in a phase II clinical trial in the treatment of adult acute myeloid leukemia, and adult acute monoblastic leukemia, refractory anemia with excess blasts.