Evaluation of cardiotoxicity of a new anthracycline derivative: 4'-deoxy-4'-iodo-doxorubicin.

The present study in rats was performed to evaluate the cardiotoxic activity of 4'-deoxy-4'-iodo-doxorubicin (4'-deoxy-4'-I-DXR), a new anthracycline derivative with interesting antineoplastic properties and possible lower cardiotoxicity than doxorubicin (DXR). DXR produced ECG alterations consisting of a progressive and irreversible prolongation of SaT and QaT. In contrast, in 4'-deoxy-4'-I-DXR-treated rats the increase in SaT and QaT duration was significantly lower than that observed in DXR-treated rats and slightly increased over controls. DXR produced significant histologic changes in myocardium consisting of myocyte vacuolization and myofibrillar loss. No significant modifications were observed in mitochondria. In contrast, no significant cardiac lesions were observed in 4'-deoxy-4'-I-DXR-treated rats. These results suggest that this new anthracycline derivative has a significantly lower degree of cardiotoxic activity than DXR.