Overview and historical development of dexrazoxane.

Dexrazoxane prevents the dose-limiting cardiotoxicity of the anthracyclines without reducing their antitumor efficacy and without new adverse side effects. Dexrazoxane reduces the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms of the anthracycline containing combination doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide and most surprisingly and importantly, dexrazoxane increases the median survival time of advanced breast cancer responders to the doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide regimen. The median survival time is doubled as compared to controls to nearly 3 years.