A bisdioxopiperazine with antineoplastic activity and cardioprotective properties. After hydrolysis to an active form that is similar to ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), dexrazoxane chelates iron, thereby preventing the metal-catalyzed formation of reactive oxygen radicals produced by anthracycline antibiotics such as doxorubicin. This agent also inhibits the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II, resulting in cell growth inhibition. (NCI04)