High-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and T methods for the early detection of myocardial injury in patients on chemotherapy

Important advances achieved in pharmacological cancer treatment have led progressively to a reduction in mortality from many forms of cancer, and increasing numbers of previously incurable patients can now hope to become cancer-free. Yet, to achieve these improved outcomes a high price has been paid in terms of untoward side effects associated with treatment, cardio-toxicity in particular. Several recent studies have reported that cardiac troponin assay using high-sensitivity methods (hscTn) can enable the early detection of myocardial injury related to chemotherapy or abuse of drugs that are potentially cardiotoxic. Several authors have recently suggested that changes in hs- cTn values enable the early diagnosis of cardiac injury from chemotherapy, thus potentially benefitting cancer patients with increased troponin values by initiating early cardioprotective therapy. However, large randomised clinical trials are needed in order to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of standardised protocols for the early detection of cardiotoxicity using the hs- cTn assay in patients treated with chemotherapy.

Automated summary

Significant progress in pharmacological cancer treatment has increased survival rates, but at a cost of potential cardiotoxicity and other side effects. Studies have shown that high-sensitivity methods can detect myocardial injury early, potentially benefiting cancer patients by enabling early cardioprotective therapy. Large randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the cost/benefit ratio of using these methods for early detection of cardiotoxicity in chemotherapy patients.