Research progress in strategies to improve the efficacy and safety of doxorubicin for cancer chemotherapy.

DOX-based chemotherapy is still few steps away from being "perfect and safe" therapy. Certain severe systemic side effects are associated with DOX therapy. It is expected that, in the near future, DOX therapy can be much effective by selecting an ideal nanocarrier system, DOX conjugates, proper structural modifications, DOX-immunotherapy, and combination therapy. The advanced formulationsof DOX from the registered patents and recent research articles need clinical trials to bring safe treatment for cancer patients.