Doxorubicin toxicity: Histological and ultrastructural tissue damage

Authors

  • Emilia Anca Doctoral School of Integrative Biology, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1446-3730
  • Corina Roșioru Faculty of Biology and Geology and Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2613-2055
  • Vlad-Alexandru Toma Faculty of Biology and Geology and Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1141-2559
  • Lucian Barbu-Tudoran Faculty of Biology and Geology and Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Electron Microscopy Laboratory “Prof. C. Crăciun”, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Electron Microscopy Integrated Laboratory, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0360-016X
  • Septimiu Tripon Electron Microscopy Laboratory “Prof. C. Crăciun”, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Electron Microscopy Integrated Laboratory, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3815-1309
  • Anca-Daniela Stoica Faculty of Biology and Geology and Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7510-5793
  • Camelia Dobre Faculty of Biology and Geology and Center of Systems Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. ✉Corresponding author, E-mail: camelia.lang@ubbcluj.ro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbbiol.2026.1.03

Keywords:

doxorubicin, pharmacological toxicity, histopathology, ultrastructural analysis

Abstract

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective chemotherapeutic with known toxic effects over the liver, kidneys and most importantly the heart. DOX effects, such as oxidative stress induction, topoisomerase II poisoning and activation of pro-inflammatory pathways are a double-edged sword. While enhancing the antitumoral activity of this agent, these mechanisms also contribute to tissue damage which limits its use. To build upon previous research that evaluated circulating biomarkers of DOX-induced cardiac toxicity, this study offers additional perspectives on structural effects on tissues along with a short literature review of DOX use.

Article history: Received 3 April 2025; Revised 1 April 2026;
Accepted 2 June 2026; Available online 25 June 2026.

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2026-06-25

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