CVRC members Dr. Valentina Lo Sardo, PhD and Timothy Kamp, MD, PhD, FACC recently published the paper “Preventing Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity Using Functional Genomics and Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell–Derived Cardiomyocytes.”
Dr. Valentina Lo Sardo, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Cell & Regenerative Medicine
Anthracyclines, including doxorubicin, are widely used to treat a variety of childhood and adult cancers. Unfortunately, there is an associated risk of developing anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC), which can lead to substantial morbidity and even mortality. This is not a newly appreciated problem; it has been the source of extensive investigation regarding mechanisms and potential therapeutic strategies to minimize risk. A single agent, dexrazoxane, has US Food and Drug Administration approval1 as a protective agent for AIC. Initial concerns about reducing the anticancer effect of anthracyclines limited dexrazoxane’s use, but recent studies have supported its efficacy without reducing the anthracycline effect or inducing secondary malignancies.2 Although it is clear that the AIC is highly dose-dependent, capping the maximum dose has not succeeded in eliminating toxicity because of the large interindividual variability in the susceptibility to AIC. Therefore, a major need remains to reduce or ideally eliminate the risk of AIC while preserving the anticancer effect of anthracyclines. Is it even possible to separate the anticancer effects from the cardiotoxicity or do the mechanisms hopelessly overlap?
Dr. Timothy Kamp, MD, PhD, FACC
Professor, Department of Medicine
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