Trial Information

Novel Imaging and Circulation Biomarkers for Comprehensive Evaluation of Cardiovascular Function in Adult Survivors of Childhood Malignancies

Incorporation of anthracyclines into chemotherapy protocols has improved the survival of
children with solid tumours and haematological malignancies. Nonetheless, longitudinal
studies have implicated the absence of a safe anthracycline dose that is free of
cardiotoxicity. Substantial risk for cardiovascular disease has been shown recently in
large cohorts of adult survivors of childhood and adolescent survivors. Serial monitoring
of cardiac function is hence of paramount importance in childhood cancer survivors for early
detection of myocardial damage and timely institution of interventions. The optimal
monitoring of cardiac function in the long term in these at-risk patients remains to be
established. Novel noninvasive imaging modalities including echocardiography and cardiac
magnetic resonance allow interrogation of myocardial deformation and fibrosis, while
circulating biomarkers are increasingly used to monitor the cardiac status in heart failure
patients. Additionally, genetics of heart failure are increasingly unveiled.