Oral idarubicin. A review of its pharmacological properties and clinical efficacy in the treatment of haematological malignancies and advanced breast cancer.

Idarubicin is an anthracycline agent available as both oral and intravenous formulations. The oral formulation has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of advanced breast cancer, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes and as first-line induction therapy of acute myelogenous leukaemia where intravenous anthracycline treatment is precluded. It also has potential in ameliorating blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukaemia and in multiple myeloma. The most frequent adverse effects associated with oral idarubicin are those commonly found with anthracyclines, namely myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and mucositis. There appears to be minimal significant cardiotoxicity with oral idarubicia. In summary; available data concerning oral idarubicin in haematological malignancies and advanced breast cancer are sufficiently encouraging to warrant further research. To maximise the use of oral idarubicin, future studies should define the optimal dose for elderly patients, its comparative efficacy with other available regimens and address quality-of-life and pharmacoeconomic issues associated with the substitution of oral for intravenous chemotherapy.