Auto-discovered from 1 recent study; not yet curated.
8 studies1 human3 animal1 lab3 review/other
Tracking 8 published studies of Doxorubicin: 1 in humans, 3 in animals, 1 in the lab, 3 reviews/other.
Reported direction across studies: 4 positive, 2 mixed, 1 negative, 1 inconclusive.
Findings conflict — both supportive and negative/mixed results exist (see below). Human evidence is limited.
These counts summarize what the studies reported; they are not a measure of whether Doxorubicin works.
Animal studyReported positivePreclinical onlyTier 2 · animal
Materials today. Bio · Feb 2024
The authors designed DNA nanoflowers encoding the AS1411 aptamer that encapsulate doxorubicin and horseradish peroxidase and release drug in response to acidic tumor environments while producing oxygen. In vitro and in vivo (preclinical) experiments showed improved tumor oxygenation, increased ROS generation with ultrasound, and enhanced chemo‑sonodynamic antitumor effects with inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis. The DNA nanoflowers achieved a high doxorubicin loading rate and showed pH-triggered drug release and tumor targeting in the reported experiments.
Reported effect: doxorubicin loading rate 73.24%
Studied with: sonodynamic therapy (ultrasound).
Key findings
- Designed DNA nanoflowers (DOX/HRP-DFs) encoding AS1411 aptamer, encapsulating doxorubicin and horseradish peroxidase.
- Doxorubicin loading rate of DNA nanoflowers reached 73.24 ± 3.45%.
- Drug could be released quickly by disintegrating in an acidic environment (pH-responsive release).
- AS1411 aptamer increased concentration of doxorubicin in tumor cells (tumor targeting).
- In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated DNA nanoflowers could considerably improve tumor hypoxia.
- Combination with ultrasound generated sufficient ROS, significantly enhancing sonodynamic therapy efficacy.
- DNA nanoflowers evidently inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in the reported preclinical experiments.
Limitations: Preclinical work only: evidence is limited to in vitro and in vivo experiments, no human data reported in the abstract.; Abstract does not report species, sample sizes, dosing regimens, or detailed safety/toxicity data.; No information on long-term outcomes, pharmacokinetics, or translational feasibility in humans in the abstract..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jul 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Case reportReported negativeLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 1
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · Oct 2022 · case report
Doxorubicinhigh-grade endometrioid stromal sarcoma of the ovarymature cystic teratoma (ovary) This is a single-patient case report of a 62-year-old woman whose ovarian mature cystic teratoma underwent malignant transformation to a high-grade endometrioid stromal sarcoma (FIGO stage IIIC). She underwent debulking cytoreductive surgery followed by three courses of adjuvant doxorubicin, but the cancer recurred 3 months after surgery and the patient died of progressive disease. Imaging showed invasive features on MRI and high FDG uptake on PET/CT that suggested malignancy.
Reported effects: age 62, n=1 · symptom_duration 6 mo, n=1 · +4 more
Studied with: debulking cytoreductive surgery.
Key findings
- A 62-year-old woman presented with 6 months of lower abdominal pain.
- Magnetic resonance imaging showed two adnexal masses with fat components consistent with mature cystic teratomas; the left mass had an eccentric thick rim with irregular invasion of the uterus suggestive of malignancy.
- PET/CT demonstrated high fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the corresponding area.
- The patient underwent debulking cytoreductive surgery and was diagnosed with FIGO stage IIIC high-grade endometrioid stromal sarcoma arising from a mature cystic teratoma.
- After surgery the patient received adjuvant chemotherapy with three courses of a doxorubicin regimen (dose not specified).
- The cancer recurred 3 months after surgery, and the patient died of progressive disease.
Limitations: Single-patient case report (n=1), limiting generalizability.; No chemotherapy dose, schedule details, or response metrics provided.; Short interval to recurrence and limited follow-up information.; No control or comparator; observational description only..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Animal studyFormulationReported positivePreclinical onlyTier 2 · animal
RSC advances · Mar 2018 · mouse 4T1 breast cancer xenograft study
The authors developed a contractible hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)/Fe3O4 hydrogel designed to release doxorubicin in response to pH and an applied magnetic stimulus. In vitro, the DOX-loaded hydrogel showed notable pH-sensitive drug release. In mice bearing 4T1 breast cancer xenografts, combined chemo-magnetic hyperthermia treatment with the hydrogel led to recovery without recurrence or metastasis and was reported to produce reduced toxicity and superior anticancer effects.
Studied with: doxorubicin, magnetic hyperthermia.
Key findings
- A contractible HPMC/Fe3O4 hydrogel with dual pH- and magnetic-response properties was developed as a drug delivery system.
- The HPMC/Fe3O4/DOX hydrogel displayed a remarkable pH-sensitive drug release profile in vitro.
- After synergistic chemo-magnetic hyperthermia treatment, mice with 4T1 breast cancer xenografts recovered without any recurrence or metastasis.
- The combined pH- and magnetic-hyperthermia response reportedly produced reduced toxicity and superior anticancer effects.
Limitations: Preclinical study limited to in vitro experiments and a single mouse xenograft model (4T1); results may not translate to humans.; Abstract does not report sample size, dosing details, treatment schedule, control groups, or follow-up duration.; Efficacy and safety assessments appear limited to the animal model; no clinical/human data provided..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jul 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
ReviewMixed resultsLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
Current opinion in oncology · Jul 2014 · narrative review
This narrative review summarizes evidence-based management of recurrent and metastatic uterine leiomyosarcoma. For disseminated disease the authors state fixed‑dose‑rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel is an appropriate first-line chemotherapy and list other active cytotoxic agents (doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine). They note trabectedin and other targeted therapies are under investigation (pazopanib is currently the only approved targeted therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma) and that aromatase inhibitors may be reasonable for small-volume, slowly progressive ER/PR-positive disease. The authors conclude overall survival for advanced disease remains poor and novel agents are needed.
Studied with: fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel.
Key findings
- Selected patients with localized or single-organ oligometastatic disease may benefit from surgical resection.
- For patients with disseminated disease, fixed-dose-rate gemcitabine plus docetaxel is an appropriate first-line chemotherapy regimen.
- Other active cytotoxic agents include doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine.
- The role of trabectedin is being explored; trabectedin is approved by the European Medicine Agency to be marketed for advanced or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma.
- Trials are underway for targeted therapy in uterine LMS; currently, the only approved targeted therapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma is pazopanib.
- In patients with small volume and slowly progressive estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor-positive disease, antiestrogen therapy with an aromatase inhibitor is a reasonable alternative to observation alone.
- Despite recent advances, overall survival for advanced disease remains poor and identification of novel agents with activity in LMS is needed.
Limitations: Narrative review rather than primary data or systematic review; no new quantitative results presented in this article.; Conclusions depend on the quantity and quality of existing trials, which are not detailed in the abstract.; No sample sizes, effect sizes, or trial-level data are reported in the abstract to support comparative effectiveness claims..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Meta-analysisTrialInconclusiveLimited evidenceTier 4 · clinical
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · Feb 2013 · Cochrane systematic review of randomized controlled trials (searched for RCTs) and discussion of non-randomised studies; search up to February 2012
This Cochrane systematic review searched for randomized trials comparing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or chemotherapy alone, combined with surgery for ovarian carcinosarcoma and found no eligible randomized controlled trials. The authors therefore found no evidence to inform decisions about which adjuvant or neoadjuvant regimens to use and called for multicentre RCTs or well-designed non-randomised studies and further molecular research.
Studied with: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy.
Key findings
- No randomized controlled trials were identified comparing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or chemotherapy alone, in women with ovarian carcinosarcoma.
- The search strategy identified 297 unique references, all of which were excluded and therefore no data were analysed.
- Various chemotherapy regimens have been used historically (including cisplatin; combinations with doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine, cyclophosphamide, taxol), but their effectiveness appears mixed.
- Authors recommend multicentre or multinational RCTs, or well-designed non-randomised studies using multivariate analysis, and further research into genetic and molecular signalling pathways.
- The authors note the importance of addressing quality of life and toxicity given the generally poor prognosis.
Limitations: No randomized controlled trials were found, so no quantitative data or pooled analysis could be performed.; Search was conducted up to February 2012; more recent studies (after that date) would not be included.; Rare disease with likely limited available studies, limiting the ability to draw conclusions..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed · Full text
Case reportTrialReported positiveLimited evidenceTier 3 · early humann = 2
Pediatric surgery international · May 2008 · case reports
This report describes two children with very rare primary ovarian rhabdomyosarcoma. After complete surgical removal, both received chemotherapy with vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide and had a good response. Both patients were alive 8 and 9 months after surgery.
Key findings
- Two pediatric cases of primary ovarian rhabdomyosarcoma were described.
- Both patients underwent complete resection of the primary tumor.
- Both received vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.
- The abstract reports a good response to therapy and survival at 8 and 9 months post-operatively.
Limitations: Case report with only 2 patients.; No control group.; Short follow-up.; Cannot separate the effect of surgery from chemotherapy.; No dosing details reported..
Describes management of a rare ovarian cancer in children, including chemotherapy, but does not isolate the effect of any single compound.
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Animal studyReported positivePreclinical onlyTier 2 · animal
Biochimica et biophysica acta · Dec 2003
In mice bearing M5076 ovarian sarcoma, co-administration of theanine increased tumor doxorubicin concentration, enhanced the antitumor activity of doxorubicin and suppressed hepatic metastasis, while not increasing doxorubicin levels in normal tissues or worsening markers of doxorubicin-induced toxicity. In vitro, theanine inhibited glutamate uptake and doxorubicin efflux from tumor cells, reduced intracellular glutamate, GSH and GS-DOX conjugate levels, and the authors propose involvement of MRP5/GS-X export; similar effects were seen with specific glutamate transporter inhibitors and with other chemotherapeutics.
Studied with: doxorubicin, other anthracyclines, cisplatin, irinotecan, green tea (oral).
Key findings
- In M5076 ovarian sarcoma-bearing mice, theanine significantly enhanced the inhibitory effect of DOX on tumor growth and increased the DOX concentration in the tumor, compared to DOX-alone group.
- Oral administration of theanine or green tea similarly enhanced the antitumor activity of DOX.
- The combination of theanine with DOX suppressed the hepatic metastasis of ovarian sarcoma.
- An increase in DOX concentration was not observed in normal tissues such as liver and heart, and theanine tended to normalize DOX-induced increases in lipid peroxide levels and reduction of glutathione peroxidase activity.
- In vitro, theanine inhibited the efflux of DOX from tumor cells and significantly inhibited glutamate uptake by M5076 cells similar to specific inhibitors.
- Two astrocytic high-affinity glutamate transporters, GLAST and GLT-1, were expressed in M5076 cells.
- Theanine-induced reduction of intracellular glutamate caused decreases in intracellular glutathione (GSH) and GS-DOX conjugate levels; expression of MRP5 suggests export of GS-DOX via the MRP5/GS-X pump, which theanine affected.
- DHK and L-serine-O-sulfate (SOS), specific glutamate transporter inhibitors, also enhanced DOX antitumor activity via inhibition of glutamate uptake.
- Theanine enhanced the antitumor activities of other anthracyclines, cisplatin and irinotecan in this experimental context.
Limitations: Preclinical study in a single mouse tumor model and in vitro cell line; no human data reported.; Abstract does not report sample sizes, dosing regimens, or duration of treatment.; Safety and efficacy in humans are not evaluated; applicability to clinical chemotherapy is speculative.; Mechanistic links are inferred from in vitro findings and expression data rather than directly proven in patients..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Lab · in vitroMechanismMixed resultsPreclinical onlyTier 1 · lab
Current drug metabolism · Dec 2001
Doxorubicinleukemiaovarian sarcoma (M5076)Ehrlich ascites carcinoma The paper examined how four anthracycline antibiotics (doxorubicin, pirarubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin) are taken up by human cultured leukemia HL60 cells, human fresh mononuclear cells, and some mouse tumor cells. It reported that all four are incorporated via carrier-mediated transport but that the specific carriers differ between tumor and normal cells; a nucleoside transport system contributed to uptake of doxorubicin and pirarubicin in HL60 and some mouse tumor cells but not in mononuclear cells and not for daunorubicin or idarubicin. The authors propose that modifying an anthracycline to be a substrate for nucleoside transporters might allow more selective delivery to tumor cells.
Key findings
- Doxorubicin, pirarubicin, daunorubicin and idarubicin were incorporated via a common carrier-mediated system, but the carriers were different in HL60 tumor cells versus human fresh mononuclear cells.
- In HL60 cells a nucleoside transport system contributed at least in part to transport of doxorubicin and pirarubicin, but not to daunorubicin and idarubicin.
- The contribution of a nucleoside transport system to pirarubicin transport was also found in other tumor cells (mouse ovarian sarcoma M5076 and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells).
- In human mononuclear cells there was no involvement of a nucleoside transport system for the four anthracyclines examined.
- Authors suggest that modifying an anthracycline molecule to be a substrate for the nucleoside transport system could enable selective delivery to tumor cells.
Limitations: Experiments described are cell-based (in vitro) models—no in vivo or clinical data reported in the abstract.; Only a limited set of cell types were tested (HL60, human mononuclear cells, M5076, Ehrlich ascites), so generalizability is uncertain.; The therapeutic strategy proposed (modifying drugs for nucleoside transport) is speculative and not experimentally tested in vivo or clinically in this report..
AI summary of the abstract, human-reviewed · Jun 2026. Describes what this study reported, not medical advice. View on PubMed
Evidence at a glance: Doxorubicin by cancer
A deterministic grade of what published studies report for each: strength of evidence, the reported direction, and the largest credible effect, strongest-evidence first. This summarizes findings; it is not a claim that anything works.
Sarcoma○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
Soft tissue sarcoma○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
Uterine neoplasms○Insufficient evidence◆Mixed results
No primary experimental studies yet.
Most authoritative study: Management of advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma
No human studies yet · No numeric effect sizes reported · Based on a single study.
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