Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Doxorubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy medicine, one of the most widely used: it slips between DNA strands and blocks topoisomerase II, so cancer cells cannot copy their DNA. It is used for breast cancer, lymphomas (in CHOP), sarcomas, leukaemias and many others, and in a liposomal form (Doxil, Caelyx). It can damage the heart, so the lifetime total is limited. It is sold as Adriamycin, among other names.
The best-studied genetic link concerns heart damage: variants in SLC28A3 (rs7853758 is linked to lower risk), RARG and UGT1A6 have been linked to anthracycline cardiotoxicity, mainly in children. Doxorubicin is turned by CBR1 and CBR3 into doxorubicinol, a breakdown product tied to heart damage, and pumped out of cells by ABCB1 and ABCC2; studies have looked at these genes too. The findings come from a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.
Every published finding on gene variants and Doxorubicin. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
SLC28A3 rs7853758: Level 2B · replicated. Toxicity: Cardiotoxicity. 5.
RARG rs2229774: Level 3. Toxicity: Cardiotoxicity, Neoplasms. 7.
RAC2 rs13058338: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 5.
NCF4 rs1883112: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 5.
Studies of how quickly the body processes this medication.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of side effects in people carrying a variant.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Anthracyclines (class) (Anthracyclines)
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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