Do anthracycline drugs cause heart problems? If so, is there anything that can be done to reduce the risk of heart problems if you are receiving an anthracycline drug for treatment of breast cancer?
A
Anthracyclines, such as the following medications, are a class of chemotherapy drugs that can be effective in the treatment of breast cancer:
• Adriamycin (generic name, doxorubicin)
• Liposomal doxorubicin
• Ellence (generic name, epirubicin)
• Novantrone (generic name, mitoxantrone)
However, anthracyclines pose a risk of cardiotoxic side effects (i.e., severe heart problems). Some anthracycline drugs are more cardiotoxic than others.
To reduce the potential for cardiotoxicity, the following precautions are undertaken when considering or administering anthracycline drugs:[1]
• The medical history (including other cardiac risk factors, such as pre-existing heart disease, age, high blood pressure, diabetes, previous radiation therapy of the chest wall, and/or previous use of anthracyclines) of the patient is considered prior to deciding whether to use anthracyclines.
• The potential for cardiotoxity of particular anthracycline drugs is considered.
• Limited doses of anthracyclines typically are administered to patients.
• Novantrone (generic name, dexrazoxane), a cardioprotective drug, may be given to some patients receiving doxorubicin or epirubicin treatment
• During anthracycline treatment, patients are closely monitored for any heart problems.
REFERENCE
1. National Cancer Institute. Physicians Data Query: Breast cancer treatment. Accessed at www.cancer.gov.
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