Epirubicin Hydrochloride

Epirubicin hydrochloride is the 4’-epimer of the anthracycline antibiotic cytotoxic agent, doxorubicin [D4193]. The precise mechanisms of epirubicin’s cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative properties have not been completely elucidated. However, it has been reported that epirubicin forms a complex with DNA by intercalation of its planar rings between nucleotide base pairs, with consequent inhibition of nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) and protein synthesis. After intercalation between DNA base pairs, epirubicin stabilizes the topoisomerase II-DNA complex, resulting in irreversible DNA strand breakage and cytocidal activity.^1-3)
Epirubicin has been shown to have a better toxicity profile than doxorubicin. The formation of glucuronide conjugates, not seen with doxorubicin, is observed with epirubicin. The reason for this is thought to be the inversion of the OH group at the 4' position in epirubicin, which facilitates the reaction of glucuronyl transferase. This facilitates excretion and may contribute to the reduced toxicity of epirubicin compared to doxorubicin.⁴⁾ In clinical, epirubicin hydrochloride has been used alone or in combination with other cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of a variety of malignancies. (The product is for research purpose only.)