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Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1871-5257
ISSN (Online): 1875-6182

Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Author(s): A. L.A. Ferreira, L. S. Matsubara and B. B. Matsubara

Volume 6, Issue 4, 2008

Page: [278 - 281] Pages: 4

DOI: 10.2174/187152508785909474

Price: $65

Abstract

The anthracyclines constitute a group of drugs widely used for the treatment of a variety of human tumors. However, the development of irreversible cardiotoxicity has limited their use. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity can persist for years with no clinical symptoms. However, its prognosis becomes poor after the development of overt heart failure, possibly even worse than ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathies. Due to the successful action of anthracyclines as chemotherapic agents, several strategies have been tried to prevent/attenuate their side effects. Although anthracycline-induced injury appears to be multifactorial, a common denominator among most of the proposed mechanisms is cellular damage mediated by reactive oxygen species. However, it remains controversial as to whether antioxidants can prevent such side effects given that different mechanisms may be involved in acute versus chronic toxicity. The present review applies a multisided approach to the critical evaluation of various hypotheses proposed over the last decade on the role of oxidative stress in cardiotoxicity induced by doxorubicin, the most used anthracycline agent. The clinical diagnosis and treatment is also discussed.

Keywords: Doxorubicin, Reactive Oxygen Species, Oxidative Stress, Free Radicals, Cardiomyopathy, DNA damage


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