A recent study has identified a promising new method for early detection of cardiomyopathy in survivors of childhood cancer who received anthracycline chemotherapy. Anthracyclines are known for their effectiveness against paediatric cancers, but they can cause cardiomyopathy, a condition that can lead to heart failure later in life. Early detection is crucial for preventing further damage.
The research, published as part of the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study (SJLIFE), focused on profiling serum proteins and metabolites in 75 asymptomatic childhood cancer survivors with subclinical cardiomyopathy and 75 matched survivors without the condition. The study used mass spectrometry to analyse 867 proteins and 218 metabolites. A statistical model was created based on the most significant differences between the two groups.
The findings revealed a 27-protein model that successfully distinguished survivors with symptomatic or severe cardiomyopathy, those requiring heart failure medications, with 82.6% accuracy. This model could provide a crucial tool for identifying survivors at risk of developing severe heart disease before symptoms appear. The proteins identified were involved in biological processes that have been previously linked to anthracycline-related heart damage.
This study offers a significant advancement in predicting heart disease in childhood cancer survivors. Researchers suggest that further testing of these biomarkers in larger, independent cohorts is needed to fully assess their potential in clinical practice.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Poudel S et al. Serum proteins predict treatment-related cardiomyopathy among survivors of childhood cancer. JAAC: CardioOncology. 2025;7(1):56-67.
