Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) is an intravenous, anthracycline-based antibiotic and antineoplastic agent derived from Streptomyces bacterium. Adriamycin enters cancer cell DNA and inhibits cell replication by arresting protein synthesis.

In HK-2 cells, adriamycin decreases cell viability in a dose-dependent manner and induces an increase in cells in the sub G1 and G2/M phases. It also increases secretion of TNFa, decreases expression of phosphorylated PKA and Bcl-2, and increases phosphoryled signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, phospho-ERK,and ATF3. [1]

Due to adriamycin's route of administration and cytotoxic effects, extensive research has been conducted in the area of assisted delivery of the chemotherapeutic (liposome [2], prodrug [3], polymer, gold-particles, etc.)