Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: molecular and genetic predictors for risk assessment

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of molecular and genetic biomarkers in the development of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in women with breast cancer at the 12 months after polychemotherapy. Methods A total of 176 women, median age of 45,0 [42,0; 50,0] years with breast cancer without cardiovascular diseases who received anthracycline antibiotics as part of polychemotherapeutic treatment were enrolled in the study. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography and 6-minute walk test were performed at baseline and at the 12 months after polychemotherapy. Serum levels of NT-proBNP, sFas-L were measured using an enzyme immunoassay after polychemotherapeutic treatment. Evaluation of gene polymorphisms of p53 protein (polymorphic marker-Arg72Pro exon 4, rs1042522) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS3, Glu298Asp, rs1799983) were carried out by polymerase chain reaction at baseline. Results After the 12 months of polychemotherapy all patients had breast cancer remission and were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n=52) comprised patients with anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, group 2 (n=124) comprised those without it. After polychemotherapeutic treatment the median value of NT-proBNP in group 1 was higher (p