Assessment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with childhood cancer survivor for long-term follow-up

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: None.

Background

 Anthracycline cardiotoxicity is an important prognostic determinant in childhood cancer survivors (CCSs). That has been reported to improve with early therapeutic intervention, and because it is dose-dependent and progressive, early diagnosis and long-term follow-up are important. In adult survivors of cancer, the longitudinal strain (LS) is useful as a sensitive index of cardiac function. In childhood cancer survivors, strain abnormalities are also observed at both short-term and long-term follow-up. Global longitudinal strain (GLS) abnormalities are common during or early after chemotherapy, whereas changes in global circumferential strain (GCS) are more significant and consistent on long-term follow-up.

Purpose

 In this study, we aimed to conduct a cross-sectional study using strain analysis in childhood cancer survivors of a wide age range to clarify the mode of progression of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity and to identify useful indicators for long-term follow-up.

Methods

 In total, 116 patients (median age: 15.5 [range: 4.7-40.2] years) with childhood cancer who had passed at least 1 year after chemotherapy with anthracycline, and 116 control patients of similar age. Strain measurements were assessed for longitudinal strain (LS) and circumferential strain at the apical, papillary and basal levels using speckle tracking imaging. Estimated value at 5, 15, 25 and 35 years old were mathematically calculated.

Results

 Results were shown in tables and figures. Most of conventional echocardiographic parameters were not significantly different between CCCs and controls. LS, papillary CS and basal CS in CCCs decreased compared to normal controls at all age. The difference of estimated value between CCCs and normal controls in LS at all age were relatively constant. However, those in basal CS tended to increase with aging. Furthermore, basal CS in CCCs decreased with aging (r = 0.212, p < 0.001) and the duration after completion of anthracycline treatment (r = -0.244, p < 0.008).

Conclusions

 In childhood cancer survivors, strain analysis is a more sensitive indicators of cardiac function than conventional parameters. In addition, basal CS may decrease most markedly over time and could be useful indicator in long-term follow-up. Longitudinal studies should be conducted in the future to improve the accuracy of predicting anthracycline cardiotoxicity. These are new findings regarding the decline in cardiac function in childhood cancer survivors. Abstract Figure. Relationship between age and strains  Abstract Figure. Estimated values for each age group

Adenocystic carcinoma in computed tomography

Computed tomography was introduced in 1972 by Ambrose and Hounsified in England. At first it was designed for diagnostic radiology and neurosurgery of the brain and skull. Soon, in 1974, whole-body computerized tomography scanners went into operation in the United States and then came into worldwide use. The use of computed tomography in maxillofacial regions is rare. In the report two adenocystic carcinomas in the maxilla are described by computed tomography, and the images thus produced are compared to those obtained by ordinary tomography and isotope scintigraphy.

The effects of "BAR" therapy on oral malignant tumors

"BAR" therapy is a combined therapy with BUdR (Radiosensitizer), Antimetabolites (5-FU, FT-207 etc.) and Radiation for malignant tumours. How radiation can be reduced as far as possible and how the effects of treatment can be increased as much as possible are the objectives of this study of combining radiation and BUdR therapy. The authors attempted to irradiate 3-5 days after the BUdR and antimetabolite had been infused via the superficial temporal artery, in 12 malignant oral tumours (11 squamous cell carcinomas and 1 reticulum-cell sarcoma). BUdR 50-250 mg/day, antimetabolites (5-FU) 10-250 mg/day and a total irradiation dose of 6000 rads by 6 MeV Linac X-ray or Co-60 gamma ray, 200 rads/day were given. 9 marked responses, 2 moderate responses and 1 no response (2 cases were operated on by local resection) were obtained by the authors. Side effects of treatment were observed during the course of "BAR" therapy. Stomatitis was found in all patients and it occurred on the mucosa of the tumour-affected site especially. Dermatitis of the skin of the face was noted in 6 cases, resembling irradiation dermatitis. Fever was observed in 4 cases and it always occurred after irradiation. Diarrhoea was noted in 3 cases and occurred before irradiation, 2 out of 3 were given BUdR 0.1 g and the remaining one was given BUdR 1 g, and 5-FU lg. In addition, there were: 1 loss of appetite, 1 nausea and 1 exfoliation of nails.