Cancer chemotherapy and nephrotoxicity

Doxorubicin (Dox) is an anthracycline glycoside antibiotic that possesses a potent and broad spectrum anti-tumor activity against variety of human solid tumors and hematological malignancies. However its use in chemotherapy has been limited largely due to its diverse toxicities, including cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, hematological and testicular toxicity.Doxorubicin induces changes in the renal tissue of rats which includes increased glomerular capillary permeability and tubular atrophy. Although the exact mechanism of Dox-induced nephrotoxicity remains unknown, it is believed to be mediated through multifactorial mechanisms including free radical formation, iron dependent oxidative damage of biological macromolecules and membrane lipid peroxidation.