Use of Novel Biomarkers and Echocardiography to Assess Subclinical Cardiac Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Anthracyclines

Anthracyclines and other chemotherapy agents are associated with cardiotoxicity. The risk of cardiac related toxicity is increased in patients with advanced age, with multiple comorbid conditions, and those needing prolonged or intensive treatment. These patients require a tailored approach to surveillance, early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac issues related to cancer therapy, with timely decision making with respect to alterations in therapy. A serum biomarker approach alone or in combination with imaging indices holds promise for early identification, risk stratification and monitoring of chemotherapy related cardiotoxicity.

Thirty-five consecutive adult females between the ages of 18-85 with diagnosis of invasive breast cancer, planned for anthracycline inclusive chemotherapy (+/- taxanes, +/- trastuzumab) will be enrolled.

A detailed medical history (interim where appropriate), physical exam, collection of blood samples for the measurement of Heart Failure (HF) biomarkers (and standard chemistry and hematology parameters), electrocardiogram and a 2D/3D echo cardiogram including the measurement of global longitudinal strain will be performed at baseline, mid chemotherapy, at the end of chemotherapy and 6 months post the completion of chemotherapy. (echocardiogram will not be done during chemotherapy).

The hypothesis being tested in this prospective trial is whether early changes in the levels of serum biomarkers of stress (N terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)), inflammation (ST2), necrosis (hs troponin), and fibrosis (galectin-3) will correlate with changes in sub-clinical left ventricular dysfunction as assessed by 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiogram with speckle tracking/strain in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline based chemotherapy.