Epixtra 50 mg contains Epirubicin Hydrochloride, a potent anticancer medicine used as part of chemotherapy treatment. Epirubicin belongs to the anthracycline family—powerful drugs derived from natural antibiotics that are specially designed to fight rapidly growing cancer cells.

Epixtra is used in various cancers, particularly breast cancer, and is typically administered by injection into a vein by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinical setting. It’s known for its strong efficacy in shrinking tumors and helping to prevent cancer recurrence.

Mechanism of Action

Epirubicin works by directly interfering with cancer cell DNA:

• It inserts itself between DNA strands, preventing them from replicating.

• It inhibits topoisomerase II, an enzyme needed for DNA unwinding and repair.

• This causes DNA damage that cancer cells can’t fix, leading to cell death.

Because cancer cells divide rapidly, they are especially vulnerable to this kind of DNA damage—making epirubicin effective at slowing tumor growth and spreading.

Therapeutic Uses

Epixtra is commonly used in combination with other chemotherapy agents for treating:

• Breast cancer (both early-stage and advanced/metastatic)

• Bladder cancer (intravesical or intravenous use)

• Stomach cancer

• Lung cancer

• Ovarian cancer

• Used as adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery

  Adverse Effects

  Epirubicin, while effective, can have side effects that need monitoring. The most common ones are due to its effect on fast-dividing cells—not just cancer cells, but also blood cells, hair follicles, and gut lining.

  Common Side Effects:

  • Hair loss (temporary but often complete)

  • Low blood counts (anemia, leukopenia, neutropenia)

  • Nausea, vomiting

  • Mouth sores

  • Fatigue

  • Skin changes at the injection site