[Prevention of cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin (Adriamycin) using cardioxane (ICRF-187, dexrazoxane) in the combination chemotherapy of disseminated breast cancer].

Clinical, ultrasound and ECG studies of the left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) carried out in 25 patients with extensive breast cancer in the course of 148 cycles of standard CAF combination therapy established a protective effect of cardioxane (ICRF-187, dexrazoxane) treatment against the cardiotoxicity of doxorubicin, administered in the maximal cumulative dose of 850 mg/sq. m (decrease in LVEF over 20% as compared with basal level, without clinical symptoms of cardiomyopathy or ECG-revealed disturbances in 0.6% of cycles). 1000 mg/sq.m cardioxane, administered in conjunction with doxorubicin in the ratio of 20:1, neither inhibited the antitumor activity of chemotherapy nor contributed to untoward side-effects which are not associated with cardiotoxicity.