U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Divider Arrow National Institutes of Health Divider Arrow NCATS
Epirubicin is an anthracycline cytotoxic agent, is a 4'-epi-isomer of doxorubicin. The compound is marketed by Pfizer under the trade name Ellence in the US. It is indicated as a component of adjuvant therapy in patients with evidence of axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer. Although it is known that anthracyclines can interfere with a number of biochemical and biological functions within eukaryotic cells, the precise mechanisms of epirubicin’s cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative properties have not been completely elucidated. It is known, 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. Such intercalation triggers DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II, resulting in cytocidal activity. Epirubicin also inhibits DNA helicase activity, preventing the enzymatic separation of double-stranded DNA and interfering with replication and transcription. Epirubicin is also involved in oxidation/reduction reactions by generating cytotoxic free radicals.

CNS Activity

Approval Year

Targets

Targets

Primary TargetPharmacologyConditionPotency
Conditions

Conditions

ConditionModalityTargetsHighest PhaseProduct
Primary
ELLENCE

Approved Use

Epirubicin Hydrochloride Injection is indicated as a component of adjuvant therapy in patients with evidence of axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer

Launch Date

1999
Cmax

Cmax

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
5.7 μg/mL
60 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 60 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
9.3 μg/mL
150 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 150 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
AUC

AUC

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
1.6 μg × h/mL
60 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 60 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
4.2 μg × h/mL
150 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 150 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
T1/2

T1/2

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
35.3 h
60 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 60 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
31.1 h
150 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 150 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
Funbound

Funbound

ValueDoseCo-administeredAnalytePopulation
23%
60 mg/m² single, intravenous
dose: 60 mg/m²
route of administration: Intravenous
experiment type: SINGLE
co-administered:
EPIRUBICIN plasma
Homo sapiens
population: UNHEALTHY
age: ADULT
sex: FEMALE / MALE
food status: UNKNOWN
Doses

Doses

DosePopulationAdverse events​
200 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
MTD
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.13,14
unhealthy, 31–62
n = 3
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Ovarian carcinoma
Age Group: 31–62
Sex: F
Population Size: 3
Sources: Page: p.13,14
DLT: Thrombocytopenia, Leukopenia...
Dose limiting toxicities:
Thrombocytopenia (grade 4, 67%)
Leukopenia (grade 4, 67%)
Myelosuppression (grade 4, 100%)
Stomatitis (grade 3, 33%)
Sources: Page: p.13,14
95 mg/m2 1 times / day multiple, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 36
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Age Group: 36
Sex: M
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Disc. AE: Aplasia bone marrow, Mucositis...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Aplasia bone marrow
Mucositis (grade 4)
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Sources: Page: p.11
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Disc. AE: Hyperthermia, Multiple organ failure...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Hyperthermia
Multiple organ failure
Lactic acidosis
Lactate dehydrogenase increased
Anuria
Sources: Page: p.11
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Disc. AE: Soft tissue necrosis...
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Soft tissue necrosis (severe)
Sources: Page: p.1
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
DLT: Leukopenia, Neutropenia...
Disc. AE: Toxic myocarditis, Congestive heart failure...
Dose limiting toxicities:
Leukopenia
Neutropenia
AEs leading to
discontinuation/dose reduction:
Toxic myocarditis (severe)
Congestive heart failure (grade 3-5)
Acute promyelocytic leukemia
Myelosuppression (severe)
Hyperuricemia
Thrombophlebitis
Thromboembolic event
Pulmonary embolism
Sources: Page: p.1
AEs

AEs

AESignificanceDosePopulation
Stomatitis grade 3, 33%
DLT, Disc. AE
200 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
MTD
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.13,14
unhealthy, 31–62
n = 3
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Ovarian carcinoma
Age Group: 31–62
Sex: F
Population Size: 3
Sources: Page: p.13,14
Myelosuppression grade 4, 100%
DLT, Disc. AE
200 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
MTD
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.13,14
unhealthy, 31–62
n = 3
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Ovarian carcinoma
Age Group: 31–62
Sex: F
Population Size: 3
Sources: Page: p.13,14
Leukopenia grade 4, 67%
DLT, Disc. AE
200 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
MTD
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.13,14
unhealthy, 31–62
n = 3
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Ovarian carcinoma
Age Group: 31–62
Sex: F
Population Size: 3
Sources: Page: p.13,14
Thrombocytopenia grade 4, 67%
DLT, Disc. AE
200 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
MTD
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 200 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.13,14
unhealthy, 31–62
n = 3
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Ovarian carcinoma
Age Group: 31–62
Sex: F
Population Size: 3
Sources: Page: p.13,14
Aplasia bone marrow Disc. AE
95 mg/m2 1 times / day multiple, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 36
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Age Group: 36
Sex: M
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Gastrointestinal bleeding Disc. AE
95 mg/m2 1 times / day multiple, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 36
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Age Group: 36
Sex: M
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Mucositis grade 4
Disc. AE
95 mg/m2 1 times / day multiple, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 95 mg/m2, 1 times / day
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 36
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Age Group: 36
Sex: M
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Anuria Disc. AE
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Hyperthermia Disc. AE
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Lactate dehydrogenase increased Disc. AE
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Lactic acidosis Disc. AE
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Multiple organ failure Disc. AE
320 mg/m2 single, intravenous
Overdose
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Route: intravenous
Route: single
Dose: 320 mg/m2
Sources: Page: p.11
unhealthy, 63
n = 1
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Breast cancer and liver metastasis
Age Group: 63
Sex: F
Population Size: 1
Sources: Page: p.11
Soft tissue necrosis severe
Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Leukopenia DLT, Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Neutropenia DLT, Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Acute promyelocytic leukemia Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Hyperuricemia Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Pulmonary embolism Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Thromboembolic event Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Thrombophlebitis Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Congestive heart failure grade 3-5
Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Myelosuppression severe
Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Toxic myocarditis severe
Disc. AE
120 mg/m2 1 times / 3 weeks multiple, intravenous
Recommended
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Route: intravenous
Route: multiple
Dose: 120 mg/m2, 1 times / 3 weeks
Sources: Page: p.1
unhealthy
Health Status: unhealthy
Condition: Axillary node tumor involvement following resection of primary breast cancer
Sources: Page: p.1
Sourcing

Sourcing

Vendor/AggregatorIDURL
PubMed

PubMed

TitleDatePubMed
Dose-dense sequential adjuvant chemotherapy with epirubicin, paclitaxel and CMF in high-risk breast cancer.
2001
Gemcitabine, epirubicin, and paclitaxel combinations in advanced breast cancer.
2001 Apr
Clinical impacts of tumor cell contamination of hematopoietic stem cell products in metastatic breast cancer patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: multicenter trial.
2001 Apr
Carboplatin alone vs carboplatin plus epidoxorubicin as second-line therapy for cisplatin- or carboplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer.
2001 Apr
Second-line therapy for potentially platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer: what is optimal treatment?
2001 Apr
Local hyperthermia, radiation, and chemotherapy in recurrent breast cancer is feasible and effective except for inflammatory disease.
2001 Apr 1
Expression and prognostic significance of catalase in malignant mesothelioma.
2001 Apr 1
Ondansetron plus metopimazine compared with ondansetron plus metopimazine plus prednisolone as antiemetic prophylaxis in patients receiving multiple cycles of moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
2001 Apr 1
Randomized trial of adjuvant chemotherapy versus control after curative resection for gastric cancer: 5-year follow-up.
2001 Apr 6
Preoperative high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell support as a primary management of locally advanced breast cancer.
2001 Feb
Bone marrow involvement by nasal NK cell lymphoma at diagnosis is uncommon.
2001 Feb
Benefit of a high-dose epirubicin regimen in adjuvant chemotherapy for node-positive breast cancer patients with poor prognostic factors: 5-year follow-up results of French Adjuvant Study Group 05 randomized trial.
2001 Feb 1
[Docetaxel (Taxotere) in combination with anthracycline, capecitabin (Xeloda) and new drugs].
2001 Jan-Feb
Synchronous gastric adenocarcinoma and MALT lymphoma in a patient with H. pylori infection. Could the two neoplasms share a common pathogenesis?
2001 Jan-Feb
Prognostic factors for recurrence in stage II and III gastric cancer patients receiving a curative resection and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.
2001 Jan-Feb
Activation of caspase-3 in renal cell carcinoma cells by anthracyclines or 5-fluorouracil.
2001 Jul
Chemotherapy response of breast cancer depends on HER-2 status and anthracycline dose intensity in the neoadjuvant setting.
2001 Jun
Phase III trial comparing two dose levels of epirubicin combined with cyclophosphamide with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil in node-positive breast cancer.
2001 Jun 15
Metastatic eccrine porocarcinoma: response to docetaxel (Taxotere) chemotherapy.
2001 Mar
High incidence of central nervous system involvement in patients with metastatic or locally advanced breast cancer treated with epirubicin and docetaxel.
2001 Mar
Neoadjuvant high dose chemotherapy plus peripheral blood progenitor cells in inflammatory breast cancer: a multicenter phase II pilot study.
2001 May
Optimizing adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy: rationale for the MA.21 study.
2001 May
New combinations with epirubicin in advanced breast cancer.
2001 May
Dose-dense and sequential strategies in adjuvant breast cancer therapy.
2001 May
Body surface area as a determinant of pharmacokinetics and drug dosing.
2001 May
Management of extravasation injuries.
2001 May
Standard chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma: is it a myth?
2001 May 15
Prospective evaluation of early cardiac damage induced by epirubicin-containing adjuvant chemotherapy and locoregional radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.
2001 May 15
Patents

Sample Use Guides

Injection is administered to patients by intravenous infusion. Drug is given in 14 repeated 3- to 4-week cycles. The total dose may be given on Day 1 of each cycle 15 or divided equally and given on Days 1 and 8 of each cycle. The recommended starting dose is 100 to 120 mg/m2.
Route of Administration: Intravenous
It was investigated the effect of combined treatment with the anthracycline agent epirubicin (EPI) and NK cells on human breast cancer cells. NK cells were obtained by autologous adoptive cell transfer from breast cancer patients and amplified for 14 days in vitro. The cytotoxicity of NK cells against breast cancer cells was higher following EPI (5.0 μg/ml) pretreatment than without EPI pretreatment or application of EPI alone. The expression of NKG2D ligands [unique long 16-binding protein (ULBP) 1, ULBP2, and major histocompatibility complex class I-related chain A] in breast cancer cells was upregulated by pretreatment with EPI, which also increased the secretion of interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α and expression of perforin and granzyme B in NK cells. These results indicate that EPI-NK cell treatment has synergistic cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells, and suggest that anthracycline-based chemotherapy and NK cell-based immunotherapy can be combined for more effective breast cancer treatment.
Substance Class Polymer
Created
by admin
on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023
Edited
by admin
on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023
Record UNII
RQU6X0IM9R
Record Status Validated (UNII)
Record Version
  • Download
Name Type Language
NC-6300
Code English
NANOPARTICLE EPIRUBICIN
Common Name English
MICELLAR NANOPARTICLE-ENCAPSULATED EPIRUBICIN
Common Name English
K-912
Code English
Code System Code Type Description
NCI_THESAURUS
C139003
Created by admin on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023
PRIMARY NCIT
FDA UNII
RQU6X0IM9R
Created by admin on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023 , Edited by admin on Sat Dec 16 13:26:22 GMT 2023
PRIMARY
Display Structure of NC-6300
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METABOLITE ACTIVE -> PRODRUG
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ACTIVE MOIETY
Name Property Type Amount Referenced Substance Defining Parameters References
MOL_WEIGHT CHEMICAL