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Background and objective Paclitaxel and doxorubicin are associated with neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity respectively. This study aimed at investigating the role of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) in counteracting paclitaxel-induced neuropathy and doxorubicin-associated cardiotoxicity in women with breast cancer. Patients and methods This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled prospective study included 64 patients with breast cancer who were randomized into control group ( n  = 32) which received 4 cycles of doxorubicin plus cyclophosphamide (every 21 days) followed by weekly doses of paclitaxel for 12 weeks plus placebo tablets once daily and ALA group ( n  = 32) which received the same chemotherapeutic regimen plus ALA 600 once daily for 6 months. Patients were assessed by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE version 4.0) for grading of neuropathy and by 12-item neurotoxicity questionnaire (Ntx-12). The assessment included also echocardiography and evaluation of serum levels of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), malondialdehyde (MDA), and neurotensin (NT). Data were analyzed by paired and unpaired t- test, Mann–Whitney U test, and chi-square test. Results As compared to placebo, ALA provoked significant improvement in NCI-CTCAE neuropathy grading and Ntx-12 score after the end of 9 th and 12 th weeks of paclitaxel intake ( p  = 0.039, p  = 0.039, p  = 0.03, p  = 0.004, respectively). At the end of the chemotherapy cycles, ALA resulted in significant decline in serum levels of BNP, TNF-α, MDA, and neurotensin ( p  < 0.05) as compared to baseline data and placebo. Conclusion Alpha-lipoic acid may represent a promising adjuvant therapy to attenuate paclitaxel-associated neuropathy and doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in women with breast cancer. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03908528.

Background Cardiotoxicity is the most significant adverse event associated with trastuzumab (T), the main component of HER2-positive breast cancer (BC) treatment. Less is known about the cardiotoxicity of dual HER2 blockade with T plus lapatinib (L), although this regimen is used in the metastatic setting. Methods This is a sub-analysis of the ALTTO trial comparing adjuvant treatment options for patients with early HER2-positive BC. Patients randomised to either T or concomitant T + L were eligible. Cardiac events (CEs) rates were compared according to treatment arm. Results With 6.9 years of median follow-up (FU) and 4190 patients, CE were observed in 363 (8.6%): 166 (7.9%) of patient in T + L arm vs. 197 (9.3%) in T arm (OR = 0.85 [95% CI, 0.68–1.05]). During anti-HER2 treatment 270 CE (6.4%) occurred while 93 (2.2%) were during FU (median time to onset = 6.6 months [IQR = 3.4–11.7]). While 265 CEs were asymptomatic (73%), 94 were symptomatic (26%) and four were cardiac deaths (1%). Recovery was observed in 301 cases (83.8%). Identified cardiac risk factors were: baseline LVEF < 55% (vs > 64%, OR 3.1 [95% CI 1.54–6.25]), diabetes mellitus (OR 1.85 [95% CI 1.25–2.75]), BMI > 30 kg/m 2 (vs < 25 mg/kg 2 , OR 2.21 [95% CI 1.40–3.49]), cumulative dose of doxorubicin ≥240 mg/m 2 (OR 1.36 [95% CI 1.01–1.82]) and of epirubicin≥ 480 mg/m 2 (OR 2.33 [95% CI 1.55–3.51]). Conclusions Dual HER2 blockade with T + L is a safe regimen from a cardiac perspective, but cardiac-focused history for proper patient selection is crucial. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00490139 (registration date: 22/06/2007); EudraCT Number: 2006–000562–36 (registration date: 04/05/2007); Sponsor Protocol Number: BIG2–06 /EGF106708/N063D.

•The use of carvedilol is recommended by guidelines for the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. However, the level of evidence behind this recommendation is weak.•CARDIOTOX is the largest clinical trial ever conducted to evaluate the potential role of carvedilol in preventing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, including several types of cancer.•The monitoring of cardiotoxicity through systematic echocardiography with GLS and biomarkers (during chemotherapy and follow-up) might serve as a guidance for future strategies in managing these patients. Patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy with an anthracycline-based regimen are at increased risk of cardiotoxicity, predisposing to heart failure, arrhythmias and death. Whether carvedilol may confer benefit to prevent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity remains to be determined. CARDIOTOX is a double-blind, placebo controlled randomized clinical trial that plan to enroll 1,018 patients across 25 study sites in Brazil. Patients with active cancer scheduled to undergo an anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen are eligible. Patients with prior HF or cardiomyopathy are excluded. Patients are randomized in 1:1 ratio to carvedilol (starting dose 6.25mg BID up titrated to 25mg BID or maximum tolerated dose) or placebo, stratified by site and use of renin-angiotensin blockers at baseline. Study drug is administered through the duration of chemotherapy and up to 30 days after the last dose of anthracycline. Patients are scheduled to undergo echocardiographic evaluations at baseline and at 3, 6, and 12 months. The study primary endpoint is the composite of new left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) reduction by at least 10% leading to an LVEF <50%, cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, urgent care visit or hospitalization for heart failure, or clinically significant arrhythmias at 12 months. Echocardiographic images will be analyzed by a central core lab, clinical outcomes will be adjudicated, and safety endpoints include serious adverse events and adverse events of special interest (symptomatic bradycardia, hypotension, syncope and bronchospasm). The CARDIOTOX trial is the largest trial to date analyzing the potential role of beta-blockers as prophylactic therapy to prevent cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines. Effects of Carvedilol on Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients Submitted to Anthracycline Therapy (CardioTox). ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04939883. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04939883

Background and Objectives: Cancer therapy containing anthracyclines is associated with cancer-treatment-related cardiac dysfunction and heart failure (HF). Conventional cardioprotective medications can be frequently complicated by their blood-pressure-lowering effect. Recently, elevated resting heart rate was shown to independently predict mortality in patients with cancer. As a heart rate-lowering drug without affecting blood pressure, ivabradine could present an alternative management of anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity. Materials and Methods: This study aimed to investigate the probable protective effects of ivabradine in cancer patients with elevated heart rate (>75 beats per minute) undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy. Patients referred by oncologists for baseline cardiovascular risk stratification before anthracycline chemotherapy who met the inclusion criteria and had no exclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of two strategies: ivabradine 5 mg twice a day (intervention group) or controls. Electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiogram with global longitudinal strain (GLS), troponin I (Tn I), and N-terminal natriuretic pro-peptide (NT-proBNP) were performed at baseline, after two and four cycles of chemotherapy and at six months of follow-up. The primary endpoint was the prevention of a >15% reduction in GLS. Secondary endpoints were effects of ivabradine on Tn I, NT-proBNP, left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction, right ventricle dysfunction, and myocardial work indices. Results: A total of 48 patients were enrolled in the study; 21 were randomly assigned to the ivabradine group and 27 to the control group. Reduced GLS was detected 2.9 times less often in patients receiving ivabradine than in the control group, but this change was non-significant (OR [95% CI] = 2.9 [0.544, 16.274], p = 0.208). The incidence of troponin I elevation was four times higher in the control group (OR [95% CI] = 4.0 [1.136, 14.085], p = 0.031). There was no significant change in NT-proBNP between groups, but the increase in NT-proBNP was almost 12% higher in the control group (OR [95% CI] = 1.117 [0.347, 3.594], p = 0.853). LV diastolic dysfunction was found 2.7 times more frequently in the controls (OR [95% CI] = 2.71 [0.49, 15.10], p = 0.254). Patients in the ivabradine group were less likely to be diagnosed with mild asymptomatic CTRCD during the study (p = 0.045). No differences in right ventricle function were noted. A significant difference was found between the groups in global constructive work and global work index at six months in favour of the ivabradine group (p = 0.014 and p = 0.025). Ivabradine had no adverse effects on intracardiac conduction, ventricular repolarization, or blood pressure. However, visual side effects (phosphenes) were reported in 14.3% of patients. Conclusions: Ivabradine is a safe, well-tolerated drug that has shown possible cardioprotective properties reducing the incidence of mild asymptomatic cancer-therapy-induced cardiac dysfunction, characterised by a new rise in troponin concentrations and diminished myocardial performance in anthracycline-treated women with breast cancer and increased heart rate. However, more extensive multicentre trials are needed to provide more robust evidence.

Cardiotoxicity is a side effect of chemotherapy in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive breast cancer patients receiving both anthracyclines and trastuzumab. We looked for a possible protective effect of rosuvastatin against chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Methods: 50 newly diagnosed HER2 positive breast cancer patients were randomly allocated into two groups: 25patients in each. Group 1(control group) received doxorubicin for 4 cycles (3 months) followed by trastuzumab adjuvant therapy. Group 2 (treatment group) received doxorubicin for 4 cycles (3 months) followed by trastuzumab adjuvant therapy and 20 mg of oral rosuvastatin 24 h before the first cycle of chemotherapy and once daily for the rest of the follow-up period (6 months). Transthoracic echocardiography was done, and blood samples were collected for patients 24 h before the initiation of therapy, after 3 months and after 6 months to assess serum levels of high sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), Myeloperoxidase (MPO), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). The study was retrospectively registered in Clinical Trials.gov in April 2022. Its ID is NCT05338723. Compared to control group, Rosuvastatin-treated group had a significantly lower decline in LVEF after 3 months and after 6 months. They had significantly lower Hs-cTnI and IL-6 after 3 months and after 6 months, and significantly lower MPO after 6 months. Four patients in control group experienced cardiotoxicity while no one in rosuvastatin-treated group. Rosuvastatin attenuated cardiotoxicity, so it is a promising protective agent against chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.

IntroductionAgents used in antitumour therapy have toxic effects on the cardiovascular system of breast cancer (BC) patients, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease, which has become the most common non-cancer cause of death in BC patients. Exercise can effectively prevent or reduce the occurrence of cardiotoxicity, however, most BC patients have low levels of physical activity. The Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) model has been successfully applied to encourage patients to adhere to physical exercise. This study aims to explore the impact of exercise interventions based on the HAPA model on the monitoring indicators related to cardiotoxicity in BC patients during chemotherapy, aiming to prevent cardiotoxicity in BC patients and improve their physical activity level, exercise self-efficacy, exercise social support and exercise compliance.Methods and analysisIn a protocol for a quasi-randomised controlled trial involving a 4-month intervention, 62 patients with BC will be recruited from a tertiary care centre in China. Participants from the first oncology department will be assigned to the HAPA model-based exercise intervention group (n=31), while participants from the second oncology department will be assigned to the control group that will receive standard exercise guidance (n=31). The primary outcome will be the incidence of cardiotoxicity assessed by Electrocardiogram (ECG). The secondary outcomes will include physical activity level, exercise self-efficacy, exercise social support and exercise compliance, which will be evaluated by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale (SEE), Social Support Scale for Exercise (SSSE), and percentage of achieving the recommended total time of exercise per week. The chi-square test or Mann-Whitney U tests will be applied to compare the differences in ECG results and exercise compliance between the two groups. To evaluate the effect of exercise intervention on IPAQ-SF, SSE and SSSE, repeated measures ANOVA will be employed to examine the group-by-time interactions and main effects.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University (PJ-KS-KY-2024-267(X)). The results of this study will be published via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences.Trail registration numberChiCTR2400090672.

We have read with keen interest the original article by Kettana et al., which investigates the potential cardioprotective effects of rosuvastatin in HER2-positive breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We appreciate the study’s meticulous methodology and its contribution to medicine oncology. However, we suggest a cautious interpretation of the results due to unmeasured confounding variables that could influence cardiotoxicity development and treatment efficacy. The study’s fixed dosing approach to rosuvastatin precludes the assessment of dose-dependent effects, prompting a recommendation for future dose–response analyses. We also highlight the need to incorporate patient-reported outcomes for a more holistic treatment efficacy evaluation. Furthermore, we propose metabolomic analysis to uncover the drug’s mechanisms of action and computational methods like molecular docking to predict its potential targets, which could refine drug design and inform personalized treatment strategies. Our commentary aims to refine the study’s conclusions and encourage research that maximizes the understanding and clinical management of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.

Abstract Background Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was shown to have comparable efficacy to doxorubicin, with significantly reduced cardiotoxicity. This study evaluated the cardiotoxicity and efficacy of the PLD-based regimen compared with those of the doxorubicin-based regimen as adjuvant therapy for early-stage breast cancer (BC). Methods In this open-label, randomized controlled trial, patients with early-stage BC were assigned to receive either 4 cycles of PLD (study group) or doxorubicin (control group) plus cyclophosphamide followed by 4 cycles of docetaxel/paclitaxel. The primary endpoint was cardiotoxicity. Results Between November 2017 and September 2019, 247 patients (study group, n = 131; control group, n = 116) were enrolled. Incidence rates of abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, 0 vs. 1.7%) and congestive heart failure (0.0% vs. 0.9%) were similar between the two groups (all P > 0.05). A lower proportion of elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (3.8% vs. 30.2%, P < 0.001) was observed in the study group. The 5-year disease-free survival (82.7% vs. 83.8%) and overall survival (90.4% vs. 91.6%) rates were comparable (all P > 0.05). Grade 3-4 adverse events in the study group were significantly less than in the control group (43.5% vs. 61.2%, P = 0.005). Conclusion The PLD-based regimen for early-stage BC showed significantly lower rates of elevated hs-cTnT and grade 3-4 AEs with comparable efficacy to the doxorubicin-based regimen. (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03949634; IRB Approved: Ethics committee institutional review board of Shanghai Cancer Hospital, Fudan University’s (No. 1706173-19-1904B) and other center).

Background Anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) is an efficacious (neo) adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer (BCa), but is associated with an increased risk of cardiac dysfunction and functional disability. Observations suggest that regular exercise may be a useful therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular morbidity but it is yet to be interrogated in a large randomised trial. The primary aims of this study are to: 1) determine if 12-months of ET commenced at the onset of AC can reduce the proportion of BCa patients with functional disability (peak VO 2 , < 18 ml/kg/min), and 2) compare current standard-of-care for detecting cardiac dysfunction (resting left-ventricular ejection fraction assessed from 3-dimensional echocardiography) to measures of cardiac reserve (peak exercise cardiac output assessed from exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging) for predicting the development of functional disability 12-months following AC. Secondary aims are to assess the effects of ET on VO2peak, left ventricular morphology, vascular stiffness, cardiac biomarkers, body composition, bone mineral density, muscle strength, physical function, habitual physical activity, cognitive function, and multidimensional quality of life. Methods One hundred women with early-stage BCa (40–75 years) scheduled for AC will be randomized to 12-months of structured exercise training ( n  = 50) or a usual care control group ( n  = 50). Participants will be assessed at baseline, 4-weeks following completion of AC (4-months) and at 12-months for all measures. Discussion Women diagnosed with early-stage BCa have increased cardiac mortality. More sensitive strategies for diagnosing and preventing AC-induced cardiovascular impairment are critical for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and improving long-term health outcomes in BCa survivors. Trial registration Australia & New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR), ID: 12617001408370 . Registered on 5th of October 2017.

Purpose Anthracyclines are frequently used in adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer (ESBC). The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiotoxic effects in the first five years after treatment with different anthracycline-based regimens. Methods CCTG MA.21 (NCT000142) was a phase III trial in ESBC that compared cyclophosphamide (75 mg/m 2 ) orally for 14 days, epirubicin (60 mg/m 2 ) and fluorouracil, IV days one and eight (CEF) for six cycles; dose-dense epirubicin (120 mg/m 2 ) and cyclophosphamide, IV every 2 weeks for six cycles with concurrent G-CSF then paclitaxel every 2 weeks for four cycles (ddEC/T); doxorubicin (60 mg/m 2 ) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m 2 ) every 3 weeks for four cycles then four cycles q3 weekly paclitaxel (175 mg/m 2 ) (AC/T). Endpoints: LVEF decline; LV function changes (heart failure), or Grade 3–4 cardiac ischemia/infarction. A competing risk analysis was performed with endpoints of cardiotoxicity or recurrence in first 5 years after completion of chemotherapy. Results 2104 women were randomized. Compliance with cardiac LVEF assessments was 70% at 5 years in all arms. The 5-year cumulative risks of any cardiac event for CEF, ddECT, and AC/T were 22.3% (95%CI 18.9 to 25.7), 14.2% (95%CI 11.0 to 17.3), and 8.1% (95%CI 5.8 to 10.4), respectively, p  < 0.0001. At 5 years, women in the ddEC/T and AC/T group had significantly lower risk of cardiotoxicity than those given CEF (HR 0.599 and 0.371, respectively). Most events were asymptomatic drop in LVEF. Conclusions Asymptomatic changes in LVEF accounted for most of the cardiotoxicity. The majority of cardiac events occurred in year one although occurrence of cardiotoxicity over time highlights the need for improved risk stratification to guide cardiac surveillance strategies.