Definition

A type of antibiotic that is used to treat cancer, derived from a specific bacterium.

Example

The doctor prescribed doxorubicin as part of the chemotherapy treatment.

Conversation

Have you heard about doxorubicin?

Yeah, I think it's used in cancer treatments, right?

Exactly! It’s an antibiotic that helps fight cancer cells.

That’s really interesting; I didn’t know it had such a significant role.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Doxorubicin is derived from "doxorubicin" itself, which is a synthetic derivative of the antibiotic daunorubicin, originally isolated from the bacterium *Streptomyces peucetius*. The name combines "doxorubicin" (the specific compound) with the suffix "-cin" (indicating a substance, often used in the names of antibiotics). The word refers to a specific type of chemotherapy drug used in cancer treatment.

Memory Tip

Think of 'doxorubicin' as a specific substance ('-cin') derived from a natural antibiotic, which helps you remember that it is a chemotherapy drug.

Visually Confused Words