P1781 Cardio-protective role of dexrazoxane co-administered with anthracyclines: long-term echocardiographic follow-up in adult survivors of pediatric cancer

Background Cardiovascular disease is a well-recognized cause of increased late morbidity and mortality among survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracyclines. A decrease in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and fractional shortening may be observed during follow-up. Previous studies reported non-negligible prevalence of subclinical systolic dysfunction assessed with deformation imaging at short-, mid- and long-term follow up. Co-administration of Dexrazoxane has been shown to significantly reduce short-term and mid-term cardiotoxicity. The usefulness of dexrazoxane in preventing late (>10 years) anthracycline cardiotoxicity remains under discussion.

Purpose Aim of this study was to assess cardiac function in long-term (>10 years) survivors of childhood tumors treated with dexrazoxane/anthracycline association.

Methods Twenty cancer survivors previously treated with co-administration of anthracyclines and dexrazoxane for childhood renal tumors or sarcoma and a control group of 20 healthy non-athletic subjects matched for age, sex and body surface area were enrolled in the study. Echocardiographic measurements included 3D LVEF and LV and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). Cancer survivors were evaluated at median follow-up time of 21.5 years (range 10-26).

Results No evidence of cardiac toxicity, as defined by current guidelines, was reported in all survivors. None of survivors presented LVEF < 50% or abnormal longitudinal strain, defined as a value >2 SDs below the mean using sex-specific and age-specific strain values. No significant differences in standard and deformation imaging parameters were observed between survivors and controls (3D LVEF 58 ± 3 % vs 60 ± 5 % p = NS; LV GLS -21 ± 1 % vs - 21 ± 2 % p= NS; RV GLS - 23 ± 2 % vs - 23 ± 5 % p= NS). Moreover, considering subjects who received a cumulative dose of anthracyclines above the median (doxorubicin-equivalent dose ≥208 mg/m2) no significant differences were found as compared to the group receiving a lower dose.

Conclusions No evidence of cardiac toxicity was detected in all survivors. Our findings support the cardio-protective role of dexrazoxane in children undergoing anthracycline-based treatment.

Parameters Cancer survivors (n= 20) Controls (n= 20) P 3D LVEF (%) 58 ± 3 60 ± 5 NS LV GLS (%) -21 ± 1 -21 ± 2 NS RV GLS (%) -23 ± 2 -23 ± 5 NS 3 D LVEF: Three-Dimensional Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, LV GLS: Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain; LV; RV GLS: Right Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain.

Abstract P1781 Figure. LV strain analysis in a survivor

Echocardiographic long-term follow-up of adult survivors of pediatric cancer treated with Dexrazoxane-Anthracyclines association

AIMS

Cardiovascular disease is a well-recognized cause of increased late morbidity and mortality among survivors of childhood cancer treated with anthracyclines. Co-administration of Dexrazoxane has been shown to significantly reduce short-term and mid-term cardiotoxicity. Aim of this study was to assess cardiac function in long-term (>10 years) survivors of childhood tumors treated with dexrazoxane/anthracycline association.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty cancer survivors previously treated with co-administration of anthracyclines-dexrazoxane for childhood renal tumors or sarcoma and a control group of 20 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Echocardiographic measurements included 3D left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV and right ventricular (RV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). Among cancer survivors group the median age at diagnosis was 5 years (1-17) and they were evaluated at median follow-up time of 21.5 years (10-26). No evidence of cardiac toxicity, as defined by current guidelines, was reported in all survivors. No significant differences in standard and deformation imaging parameters were observed between survivors and controls (3D LVEF 58 ± 3% vs 60 ± 5% p = NS; LV GLS -21 ± 1% vs -21 ± 2% p = NS; RV GLS -23 ± 2% vs -23 ± 5% p = NS). No second tumor was registered in dexrazoxane-treated survivors.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings may support the role of dexrazoxane as a useful strategy for cardio-protection in children undergoing anthracycline based treatment. However, large randomized trials are needed to confirm the cardio-protective role of dexrazoxane in pediatric setting at long-term follow-up.