doxorubicin + trabectedin

Doxorubicin + trabectedin is a combination chemotherapy regimen used primarily for the treatment of advanced or metastatic leiomyosarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma. Doxorubicin is an anthracycline antibiotic that intercalates DNA and inhibits topoisomerase II, leading to DNA damage and apoptosis in rapidly dividing cells. Trabectedin (marketed as Yondelis) is a marine-derived alkaloid that binds to the minor groove of DNA, disrupting transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair and affecting the tumor microenvironment. Recent phase III clinical trials have demonstrated that this combination improves both progression-free survival and overall survival compared to doxorubicin alone in patients with advanced leiomyosarcoma. The regimen typically involves initial cycles of both drugs followed by maintenance therapy with trabectedin alone for patients without disease progression[1][3][4]. The combination is associated with increased but manageable hematologic and hepatic toxicities.

Brand names

Yondelis

Other names

adriamycin (for doxorubicin)