Tag: Liposomal doxorubicin

According to prescribing information, the number of treatment cycles of Doxil is not fixed and depends heavily on the type of cancer, treatment response, and patient tolerability. A primary concern influencing the total number of cycles is the potential for cardiotoxicity, a risk factor shared with its parent compound, doxorubicin.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a highly protective and selective barrier that blocks most chemotherapy drugs from reaching the central nervous system (CNS). This is also the case for Doxil, a pegylated liposomal formulation of doxorubicin, which in its standard form exhibits very limited penetration across the intact BBB.

Although designed to reduce certain toxicities, studies show that a significant percentage of patients on liposomal doxorubicin therapy experience severe side effects. Understanding **what are the disadvantages of Doxil?** is critical for both patients and healthcare providers to manage expectations and mitigate risks.