3D-STI evaluation of the effect of dexrazoxane on the mechanical properties of right ventricular myocardium in breast cancer patients treated with pirarubicin.

BACKGROUND

Observation indexes used to evaluate the effect of dexrazoxane-anthracycline combinations in breast cancer often only take into account the clinical symptoms, or left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), biomarkers [such as creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT)], or tumor recurrence rate, improvement of autonomic nerve function or economic benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dexrazoxane on the changes of mechanical properties of right ventricular myocardium in patients who underwent pirarubicin chemotherapy with three-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging (3D-STI).

METHODS

A total of 64 breast cancer post-operation patients who received pirarubicin chemotherapy were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental group (with dexrazoxane added) and the control group (without dexrazoxane). The mechanical properties of the right ventricular myocardium were monitored by 3D-STI before and after chemotherapy. The levels of serum hypersensitive troponin I (hs-cTnI) and N-terminal B-type pro-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) as well as conventional echocardiographic parameters were also measured.

RESULTS

After chemotherapy, right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS) and right ventricular global area strain (RVGAS) were significantly reduced in both groups (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dexrazoxane can alleviate the toxicity of pirarubicin in the right ventricular myocardium. 3D-STI is a potential new method for early and accurate evaluation of the mechanical properties and functional changes of the right ventricular myocardium.