doxorubicin + mitoxantrone

A combination chemotherapy regimen consisting of the anthracycline antibiotic doxorubicin and the synthetic anthracenedione mitoxantrone. This combination was studied primarily for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. The rationale for combining these agents was based on their incomplete cross-resistance and in vitro data suggesting mitoxantrone might decrease doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing membrane lipid peroxidation. However, clinical studies showed that mitoxantrone did not effectively protect against doxorubicin's cardiotoxicity. The combination demonstrated significant antitumor activity with a 50% response rate in advanced breast cancer patients, though myelosuppression was a major dose-limiting toxicity.