Safety of Oral Idarubicin:

The toxicity of oral idarubicin has been examined in approximately 2000 patients with different forms of cancer. Myelosuppression (neutropenia) has been found to be quite acceptable at the doses required to have an antitumour effect, especially in breast cancer, lymphoma, and myelodysplasia. In acute myelogenous leukaemia, the therapy aims at achieving maximum myelosuppression; haematological and nonhaematological toxicities are difficult to compare in this clinical setting. Few serious septic events have been observed, with septic deaths being rarely reported. Effects on red blood cells and platelets have been minimal.