Abstract
BackgroundAs one of the important treatment methods for cancer patients, radiotherapy may lead to incidental irradiation of the heart, resulting in radiotherapy-induced heart disease (RIHD) arising many years after radiotherapy. While, there are few studies on early subclinical cardiac damage, which may be essential for the protection of late RIHD. To detect and predict RIHD and early subclinical cardiac damage induced by thoracic radiation therapy, based on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) combined with multiple circulating biomarkers and accurate heart dosimetry.Methods and AnalysisThis is a monocentric prospective cohort study in which 104 patients treated for malignant tumors and with cardiac radiation exposure will be included. All participants will be followed for 12 months after radiotherapy. Echocardiography, 2D STE, and blood samples will be underwent at 5-time points (baseline; after completion of RT; 2, 6, and 12 months after RT). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF); global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain; diastolic function parameters; creatine kinase (CK); creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB); cardiac troponin T (cTnT); N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) will be measured at baseline and every follow-up time. The incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events will be recorded.DiscussionThis study details the protocol and presents the primary limits and advantages of this single-center project. The inclusion of patients began in 2021, and the results are expected to be published in 2023. This study will be allowed to enhance knowledge on detection and prediction of early subclinical cardiac dysfunction induced by thoracic radiation therapy, based on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) combined with circulating biomarkers and accurate heart dosimetry. Furthermore, we will evaluate risk factors of subtle cardiac damage and identify high-risk groups for early heart damage.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT04443400.
Highlights
Cancer is expected to rank as the most critical barrier to increasing life expectancy and the leading cause of death in the world in the twenty-first century
To detect and predict Radiotherapyinduced heart disease (RIHD) and early subclinical cardiac damage induced by thoracic radiation therapy, based on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) combined with multiple circulating biomarkers and accurate heart dosimetry
This study will be allowed to enhance knowledge on detection and prediction of early subclinical cardiac dysfunction induced by thoracic radiation therapy, based on twodimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) combined with circulating biomarkers and accurate heart dosimetry
Summary
Cancer is expected to rank as the most critical barrier to increasing life expectancy and the leading cause of death in the world in the twenty-first century. Thoracic radiation therapy is associated with long-term increased risk of coronary artery disease, heart failure, myocardial infarction, valvular disease, arrhythmias, pericarditis, and major adverse cardiovascular events many years after RT [5, 6]. A retrospective study of 2168 women undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer showed that the rates of major coronary events increased linearly with the mean dose to the heart by 7.4% per gray (95% confidence interval, 2.9 to 14.5; P < 0.001), with no minimum threshold for risk [10]. To detect and predict RIHD and early subclinical cardiac damage induced by thoracic radiation therapy, based on two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D STE) combined with multiple circulating biomarkers and accurate heart dosimetry
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