Idarubicin (Idamycin)

Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.

About Idarubicin

What it is

Idarubicin is an anthracycline chemotherapy medicine, a close relative of daunorubicin that enters cells more easily: it slips between DNA strands and blocks topoisomerase II, so cancer cells cannot copy their DNA. It is used mainly for acute myeloid leukaemia, together with cytarabine. Like other anthracyclines it can damage the heart. It is sold as Idamycin and Zavedos.

How genes come into it

Most gene studies on idarubicin were done in people treated for leukaemia with several medicines at once, and looked at genes of the NADPH oxidase complex (RAC2, NCF4, CYBA), which produce reactive oxygen and are linked to anthracycline heart damage, and at DCK and CYP2E1 for response and toxicity. The findings come from single or a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline.

What research found

Every published finding on gene variants and Idarubicin. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.

Rated evidence (15 rated variants)

PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.

RAC2 rs13058338: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 5.

NCF4 rs1883112: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 5.

ABCB1 rs2032582: Level 3. Efficacy: Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute. 4.

CYBA rs4673: Level 3. Toxicity: Neoplasms. 3.

Response (6 findings)

Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.

ADH1A rs1826909: Allele T is associated with increased resistance to cytarabine, fludarabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin and idarubicin in people with Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute as compared to allele C.

ADH1A rs6811453: Allele A is associated with increased resistance to cytarabine, fludarabine, gemtuzumab ozogamicin and idarubicin in people with Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute as compared to allele G.

DCK rs2306744: Allele T is associated with increased response to cytarabine and idarubicin in people with Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute as compared to allele C.

DCK rs80143932: Allele G is associated with increased response to cytarabine and idarubicin in people with Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute as compared to allele C.

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.

Related Drugs

More drugs from the same category

Adriamycin (Anthracyclines)

Anthracyclines (class) (Anthracyclines)

Cerubidine (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.

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Content updated September 2026.

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