Abstract P4-01-21: Head to head comparison of standard echo doppler versus 3D speckle tracking echocardiography for early subclinical cardiotoxicity detection in breast cancer patients treated with anthracycline adjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Arpino G , Galderisi M , De Angelis C , Milano M , Gargiulo P , Santoro A , De Stefano F , Muscariello R , De Santo I , Lauria R , De Simone G , De Placido S 
Published: August 2014

Background. Anthracycline (ANT)-containing regimens represent the prevalent choice for adjuvant therapy in early breast cancer (EBC) patients. However, cardio toxicity is a major limitation, strongly affecting the quality of life and the overall survival of cancer patients, regardless of the oncologic prognosis.

Aims: To assess the diagnostic power of real-time 3D Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (STE) in comparison with standard echo Doppler (SED) in detection of early subclinical ANT related cardio toxicity in breast cancer patients.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients (F/M = 54/1, mean age = 48 years) with EBC were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients received three cycles of epirubicin (EPI) based chemo regimen followed by taxanes. Overall, average EPI cumulative dose per patient was 505 ± 68 mg/m2 (range = 360-720 mg/m2). Complete SED exam including determination of 2D ejection fraction (EF) and pulsed Tissue Doppler of the mitral annulus were measured at baseline and at the end of the three cycles of EPI. Three-D determination of left ventricular volumes and EF as well as 3D STE-derived global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global area strain (GAS) and global radial strain (GRS) were assessed, whenever feasible, at the same time points.

Results: All the patients completed the three cycles of EPI as per protocol. No overt clinical manifestation of heart failure was observed. Standard echo doppler was performed in all the patients. Two-D EF did not significantly change with EPI treatment. However, the E/e’ ratio measured by SED, was significantly increased after EPI administration (6.7±1.7 vs. 7.25±1.8 before and after treatment, respectively; p&lt;0.05). Overall, 3D ventricular volumetric assessment was feasible in the 63.6% (35/55) of patients and 3D STE in the 60% (33/55) of patients due to anatomical or technical problems. Among parameters measured by 3D STE, a reduction of EF (58.8±8% vs. 61.7±7.1%, before and after treatment, respectively; p&lt;0.02) and a significant increase of the left ventricular end-systolic volume (p&lt;0.01) was observed. Importantly, a significant decrease of the following 3D STE parameters: GLS (p&lt;0.01), GRS (p&lt;0.001), GCS (p&lt;0.0001) and GAS (p&lt;0.0001) were observed after EPI therapy.

Conclusions: Results from the present study confirm the increased sensitivity of real time 3D STE technique in detecting early subclinical signs of cardio toxicity in patients with EBC treated with EPI adjuvant chemotherapy. However, due to technical problems, STE was not feasible in the entire patient population included in the study. Among parameters measured by SED, the E/e’ ratio identifies early signs of cardiac dysfunction more accurately compared to the standard 2D EF determination.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-01-21.