Journal of Developing Drugs
Open Access

Abstract

In vitro Synergistic Effects of Anthracycline Antitumor Agents and Fluconazole Against Azole-Resistant Candida albicans Clinical Isolates

Matsumoto S, Kurakado S, Shiokama T, Ando Y, Aoki N, Cho O and Sugita T

The number of azole-resistant Candida albicans clinical isolates is increasing. This study searched for compounds that are functionally synergistic with fluconazole against azole-resistant C. albicans strains. Synergistic effects were evaluated using the checkerboard method in a time-kill study using anthracycline antitumor agents and azole-resistant C. albicans strains. Of the five anthracycline agents examined, aclarubicin by itself had antifungal effects, whereas daunorubicin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, and idarubicin did not show antifungal effects alone, but did exert dose- and timedependent synergistic effects with fluconazole against the C. albicans strains. No antitumor agent other than anthracycline exhibited an anti-Candida effect. Anthracycline compounds may therefore be useful as seeds for development of new antifungal agents.