Glycogen phosphorylase BB as a potential marker of cardiac toxicity in patients treated with anthracyclines for acute leukemia.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the presented study was to assess plasma glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB) concentrations in acute leukemia patients treated with anthracycline containing chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Anthracyclines represent the highest risk for development of cardiotoxicity. GPBB belongs to proposed biomarkers of cardiac injury with a very limited experience in this context.

METHODS

Totally, 24 adult patients with acute leukemia were enrolled. Plasma GPBB concentrations were measured by ELISA at diagnosis (before chemotherapy), after first chemotherapy with anthracyclines and 6 months after the completion of treatment. The cut-off value for GPBB positivity was 10.00 µg/L as recommended by the manufacturer.

RESULTS

Before chemotherapy, the mean plasma GPBB concentration was 5.25±3.81 µg/L, increased above the cut-off in 1 patient (4.2 %). After the first chemotherapy, the mean GPBB was 6.61±5.54 µg/L, positive in 7 (29.2 %) patients. Six months after treatment, the mean GPBB was 10.06±11.41 µg/L, positive in 8 (33.3 %) patients. Six months after treatment, we found a significant correlation between elevation in GPBB and diastolic left ventricular dysfunction on echocardiography (r=0.621; p<0.0001). The differences in plasma GPBB between healthy blood donors and patients treated for acute leukemia were statistically significant (p<0.01 in all cases).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggested that GPBB could become a potential biomarker for detection of acute and chronic cardiotoxicity associated with anthracycline containing chemotherapy. The predictive value for development of treatment-related cardiomyopathy in future is not clear and will be evaluated during the follow-up. Further studies are needed to define the potential role of GPBB and other biomarkers in the assessment of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (Ref. 21). Text in PDF www.elis.sk.