Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.
DAUNOrubicin
Daunorubicin was originally isolated from Streptomyces caeruleorubidus and entered clinical trials in the early 1960's. It is an anthracycline antibiotic, which damages DNA by intercalation, metal ion chelation, or by generation of free radicals. Daunorubicin has also been shown to inhibit DNA polymerases and affect regulation of gene expression. Cytotoxic activity is cell cycle phase-nonspecific.
| Bioavailability | oral: no |
Rapid and wide distribution. Highest levels in liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen and heart. Crosses placenta.
| Cross blood brain barrier? | No |
| PPB | 63% |
Rapidly metabolized in the liver and other tissues, mainly by cytoplasmic aldo-keto reductases.
| Active metabolites | Daunorubicinol (major metabolite) |
| Inactive metabolites | yes |
Triphasic elimination of unchanged drug and metabolites. Hepatobiliary secretion in feces is predominant route of elimination (40%).
| Urine | Slow elimination; 25% within the first 5 days |
| Half-life | daunorubicin 18.5 h (terminal), daunorubicinol 26.7 h (terminal) |
- Acute myeloblastic and acute lymphoblastic leukemias
- Chronic myelogenous leukemia
- Ewing’s sarcoma
- Wilm's tumour
- Reticulosarcoma
- Lymphosarcoma
Emetogenic Potential:
Extravasation Potential: Vesicant
| ORGAN SITE | SIDE EFFECT* (%) | ONSET** | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular | Arrhythmia (transient, 6-30%) | I | |||
| Cardiotoxicity | D L | ||||
| Flushing (facial; with rapid injection) | I | ||||
| Pericarditis / myocarditis | E | ||||
| Dermatological | Alopecia (common) | E | |||
| Radiation recall reaction (rare) | I | ||||
| Rash | I E | ||||
| Skin hyperpigmentation (or nail) | E | ||||
| Gastrointestinal | Abdominal pain | E | |||
| Anorexia | E | ||||
| Constipation | E | ||||
| Diarrhea | E | ||||
| Mucositis | E | ||||
| Nausea, vomiting (85%) | I | ||||
| Hematological | Myelosuppression ± infection, bleeding (may be severe; nadir 10-14 days, recovery around 21 days) | E | |||
| Hepatobiliary | ↑ LFTs (may be severe) | E D | |||
| Hypersensitivity | Hypersensitivity | I | |||
| Injection site | Injection site reaction (pain, burning – may be severe; flare reaction - histamine release) | I | |||
| Metabolic / Endocrine | Hyperuricemia (during periods of active cell lysis) | I | |||
| Neoplastic | Leukemia (secondary) | L | |||
| Renal | Renal failure (rare) | E | |||
| Reproductive and breast disorders | Infertility | L | |||
| Urinary | Urine discoloration (red, for 1-2 days) | I | |||
* "Incidence" may refer to an absolute value or the higher value from a reported range.
"Rare"
may refer to events with < 1% incidence, reported in post-marketing, phase 1 studies,
isolated data or anecdotal
reports.
** I = immediate (onset in hours to days)
E = early (days to weeks)
D = delayed (weeks to months)
L = late (months to years)
Hyperuricemia during periods of active cell lysis, which is caused by cytotoxic chemotherapy of highly proliferative tumours of massive burden (e.g., some leukemias and lymphomas), can be minimized with allopurinol and hydration. In hospitalized patents the urine may be alkalinized, by addition of sodium bicarbonate to the IV fluids, if tumour lysis is expected.
Cardiac toxicity includes either an acute, transient or delayed onset type (related to cumulative dose). The acute type is uncommon; it usually occurs after a single dose/course and involves non-dose related electrocardiographic abnormalities (e.g. ST-T wave changes, QT prolongation) and arrhythmias. Pericarditis and myocarditis have been reported rarely. The non-specific electrocardiographic changes are reversible and do not generally indicate impending development of cardiomyopathy.
Delayed cardiotoxicity is irreversible, reflecting a progressive injury and loss of cardiac myocytes leading to left ventricular dysfunction, conduction disturbances, arrhythmias or heart failure. The risk factors are high cumulative dose (1-2% CHF incidence at a total cumulative dose of 550 mg/m2 in adults), thoracic radiation, pre-existing heart disease and prior therapy with anthracyclines or other cardiotoxic drugs. Management of daunorubicin-induced CHF is discontinuation of the anthracycline and standard treatment of CHF. Cardiac dysfunction may appear several months to years after anthracycline therapy, therefore monitoring should continue after therapy is complete.
Clinical cardiotoxicity in children increases rapidly at a cumulative dose of about 300 mg/m2 (children > 2 years of age), but individual patients may have a lower threshold and develop toxicity at a significantly lower dose. Impaired left ventricular systolic performance, contractility or CHF may occur in pediatric patients months to years after anthracycline discontinuation. Pediatric patients with daunorubicin-induced CHF are very sensitive to digitalis. Consult pediatric specific guidelines for dosing and recommendations regarding monitoring of cardiac function.
The tissue necrosis that occurs with extravasation may happen days to weeks after the treatment. Patients must be observed for delayed reactions and prior injection sites inspected carefully.
Daunorubicin produces more vomiting than doxorubicin, with 85% of patients in one study treated with 1 mg/kg per day for 5 days reporting either nausea or vomiting.
Daunorubicin has the potential to enhance radiation injury to tissues. While often called radiation recall reactions, the timing of the radiation may be before, concurrent with or even after the administration of daunorubicin. Recurrent injury to a previously radiated site may occur weeks to months following radiation.
Refer to protocol by which patient is being treated. Numerous dosing schedules exist and depend on disease, response and concomitant therapy. Guidelines for dosing also include consideration of white blood cell count.
Dosage should be reduced and/or delayed in patients with bone marrow depression due to cytotoxic/radiation therapy or when given in combination with other cytotoxics. Total cumulative doses should not exceed:
- 10 mg/kg (children of less than 2 years)
- 300mg/m2 (children 2 years or older)
- 550mg/m2 (adults)
- 400mg/m2 (adults who are elderly or with history of arterial hypertension, concurrent/previous thoracic radiation or cardiac risk factors such as prior anthracycline or cardiotoxic drugs)
Various dosing schedules used; refer to specific local regimens for details.
For example, as single agent: 30-60 mg/m2 per day IV x 3-6 days
Management of Infusion-related reactions with Anthracyclines:
| Grade | Management | Re-challenge |
| 1 or 2 |
|
|
| 3 or 4 |
|
|
Also consider dose modification with increased transaminases.
|
Bilirubin |
% usual dose |
|
1-2 x ULN |
75% |
|
2-4 x ULN |
50% |
|
> 4 ULN |
OMIT |
Reduce dose to 50% if creatinine greater than 2 x ULN.
May have higher risk of cardiotoxicity. Use should be avoided in patients ≥ 75 years of age.
Refer to local regimens for details. Cardiotoxicity may be more frequent in children; long-term cardiac follow-up is recommended.
- Some centres administer daunorubicin as a slow push through sidearm of free flowing IV (5% Dextrose, Normal Saline) over 3 to 10 minutes, depending on the dose, volume and vein condition
- May be mixed in 50 mL minibag (5% Dextrose, Normal Saline); Infuse through sidearm of free flowing IV over 10-15 minutes.
- Slow down injection rate if erythematous streaking or facial flushing occurs.
- Do not use if solution turns blue or purple.
- Do not admix with other drugs; incompatible with heparin, dexamethasone sodium phosphate, and aluminum
- Protect drug from light.
Also refer to the CCO guideline for detailed description of Management of Cancer Medication-Related Infusion Reactions.
Daunorubicin should not be used in patients who have/had:
- pre-existing myelosuppression or severe infection
- impaired cardiac function or severe cardiac arrhythmias
- severe liver and renal dysfunction
- previous hypersensitivity to this drug, any excipients, or to other anthracyclines, anthracenediones
- reached the lifetime cumulative dose of any combination of anthracyclines and/or anthracenediones.
- other cardiotoxic drugs or have an active viral infection
Cardiac toxicity is cumulative across the members of the anthracycline (doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, daunorubicin) and anthracenedione (mitoxantrone) classes of drugs. Patients who have received these agents, mediastinal radiotherapy or other cardiotoxic drugs, who are elderly, or who have other cardiac risk factors are at increased risk of toxicity, and should be carefully monitored.
Radiation recall reactions may occur. Live vaccines should be avoided.
| AGENT | EFFECT | MECHANISM | MANAGEMENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiotoxic drugs (e.g. cyclophosphamide, trastuzumab) or drugs that decrease heart contractility | ↑ cardiotoxic effect | Additive | Caution; Avoid anthracycline-based therapy for up to 24 weeks after stopping trastuzumab |
| Hepatotoxic medications (e.g. methotrexate) | ↑ risk of hepatotoxicity | Additive, or may impair hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion of daunorubicin | Avoid |
Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.
| Monitor Type | Monitor Frequency |
|---|---|
| Liver function tests | Baseline and regular |
| Renal function tests | Baseline and regular |
| CBC | Baseline and regular |
| Cardiac function tests (Echo, RNA and/or MUGA scans) | Baseline |
| Cardiac tests for all patients with cardiac risk factors and cumulative doses ≥ 450 mg/m2 | periodic |
Clinical toxicity assessment for stomatitis, infection, bleeding, cardiotoxicity, arrhythmia, nausea/vomiting, local reactions, hypersensitivity, tumour lysis syndrome |
At each visit |
Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
Data Sheet: Daunorubicin Injection. Pfizer New Zealand Ltd., February 23, 2011.
Drug Monograph: Daunorubicin. British Columbia Cancer Agency Cancer Drug Manual, August 1, 2013.
McEvoy GK, editor. AHFS Drug Information 2013. Bethesda: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, p. 982-8.
Product Monograph: Daunorubicin. Erfa Canada Inc., August 15, 2012.
Product Monograph: Daunorubicin. Novopharm Ltd. May 26, 1997.
September 2019 Updated infusion reaction information in Dosing section.
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.