[Mitoxantrone - an anthraquinone antibiotic with antitumor activity applied for the treatment of multiple sclerosis]

Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2014 Feb 21:68:198-208. doi: 10.5604/17322693.1091102.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Mitoxantrone is an antineoplastic agent approved for clinical use in the secondary progressive phase of multiple sclerosis (MS). Several scientific reports indicate that mitoxantrone acts through the induction of short-term cell lysis at high concentrations and long-term induction of programmed cell death at lower concentrations of antigen-presenting cells. In this paper, we present the potential cytotoxic effects of mitoxantrone on the cells of the immune system, whose activity is associated with their degenerative effects on axonal myelin sheaths. The article also evaluates the results from the hospital treatment of patients diagnosed with MS. The presented data indicate that, apart from the cytostatic properties, mitoxantrone also exhibits side effects of its clinical application. This drug has high cardiotoxicity, and is associated with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and increased risk of congestive heart failure. Therefore researchers are currently looking for new substances that can reduce the toxic effects of mitoxantrone in healthy tissues, resulting in the generation of reactive oxygen species during its metabolism.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Axons / drug effects
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Mitoxantrone / adverse effects
  • Mitoxantrone / pharmacology
  • Mitoxantrone / therapeutic use*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology
  • Myelin Sheath / drug effects
  • Stroke Volume / drug effects

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Mitoxantrone