Short-term anthracyclines-induced cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients.

Abstract

e18703 Background: Anthracycline-containing regimens are effective treatment of early breast cancer; however, they can induce irreversible myocardial damage, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. The main aim of this study was to describe and evaluate early anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Methods: This was a prospective study including breast cancer patients who where candidates for adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Patients were assessed at baseline with history, physical exam, standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and 2D echocardiography, and then shortly after completion of anthracycline-based chemotherapy. We reported the ECG parameters, LVEF calculated using Simpson's biplane method and global longitudinal strain (GLS). Cardiotoxicity was defined as a decline ≥ 5% in LVEF accompanied or not by clinical manifestations of heart failure, or a decline ≥ 10% in GLS. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. For comparisons, we used two-tailed Student's t-test. Associations between risk factors and cardiotoxicity were assessed using linear and logistic regression; a p value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 171 patients with stage I (10.3%), stage II (81%) or stage III (8.7%) invasive ductal breast carcinoma, with a mean age of 48,1 ± 10 years. Obesity was found in 59 patients and 92 were overweight. Among comorbidities, hypertension was present in 11.7%, diabetes mellitus in 5.2%, and dyslipidemia in 4.6%. The most common concomitant medications were β-blockers in 6.4%, followed by angiotensin II receptor blockers in 5.2%, Statins in 4.6%, biguanides in 5.2%. Cardiac function was assessed 12 ± 7 days before and 19 ± 8 days post chemotherapy. 94 patients received Doxorubicin with a cumulative dose of 240 mg/m2, and 77 received Epirubicin with a cumulative dose of 300 mg/m2. Subclinical Cardiotoxicity was observed in 9 patients (5.2%), defined as a decline ≥ 5% in LVEF and in one patient (0.5%) defined by GLS decline ≥ 10%. This patient had the lowest post-therapy LVEF (40.2%) of the cohort. LVEF and GLS although reduced significantly after treatment, remained within the normal range. (LVEF: 62.8 ± 3% vs. 58 ± 6%, p = 0.03), (GLS: -19.0 ± 2.4% vs. -17.1 ± 1.0%, p = 0.01). Patients receiving Doxorubicin had lower LVEF compared to Epirubicin after therapy (57.1 ± 2% vs. 61.4 ± 2%, p = 0.03). Additionally, we found significant ECG changes in Heart Rate (72.6 ± 11,6 vs. 85.2 ± 14.4 bpm, p = 0.013) and QTc (410.1 ± 24.9 vs. 427.7 ± 26.5 ms, p = 0.032). Cardiotoxicity was not associated with any cardiovascular risk factors. Doxorubicin use was the only risk factor, confirmed on multivariate analysis (p = 0,02). Conclusions: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy has detrimental subclinical effect on electrical activity and left ventricle systolic function in the short term after adjuvant chemotherapy. We did not observe any significant effect of risk factors, it is therefore important to monitor all patients.