doxorubicin

(DOK-soh-ROO-bih-sin) A drug that is used to treat many types of cancer and is being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Doxorubicin comes from the bacterium Streptomyces peucetius . It damages DNA (the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information) and stops cells from growing. Rapidly growing tumor cells that take up doxorubicin may die. It is a type of anthracycline antitumor antibiotic. Also called Adriamycin PFS , Adriamycin RDF, doxorubicin hydrochloride , and Rubex.