title: Use of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide to assess left ventricular function after adjuvant doxorubicin therapy in early breast cancer patients: a prospective series.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Anthracyclines are well established and highly efficacious antineoplastic agents for various haematopoietic and solid tumours, such as breast cancer. The main adverse effect of anthracycline therapy is cardiotoxicity. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the role of plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in assessing left ventricular function in early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three newly diagnosed breast cancer patients who received a total doxorubicin dosage of 240 mg/m2 over four treatment cycles as part of adjuvant chemotherapy after curative breast surgery were included in this study. Venous NT-proBNP levels were measured before and at the end of doxorubicin therapy. Left ventricular function was measured by echocardiography conducted 3 weeks after surgery and at the end of doxorubicin therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in patients (n=10) with decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) [p=0.02]. There was no difference in LVEF (p=0.164) or NT-proBNP levels (p=0.844) between the patients who had high NT-proBNP levels and those who had normal NT-proBNP levels before doxorubicin chemotherapy. None of the factors studied (breast cancer grade, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, age) was found to be significantly related to NT-proBNP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between higher NT-proBNP levels and reduced LVEF in asymptomatic breast cancer patients after doxorubicin administration could be an early indication of subclinical acute anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Furthermore, breast cancer patients experiencing a progressive increase in NT-proBNP levels might be in a higher risk group for acute anthracycline cardiotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey. drtimcil@dicle.edu.tr
authors.forename: Timucin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cil
authors.forename: Ali M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: Ata M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Akin
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alan
authors.forename: Abdurrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isikdogan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D015415:Biomarkers; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D004317:Doxorubicin