Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia
10:49

Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia

Published on: September 18, 2013

18.5K

QT Prolongation and Oncology Drug Development

Michael G Fradley1, Javid Moslehi2

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 2 Tampa General Circle, Tampa, FL 33606, USA.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics
|May 24, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Many drugs affect cardiac ion channels, potentially prolonging the QT interval and causing dangerous arrhythmias. Accurate QT interval measurement is crucial in drug development, though challenging, as significant prolongation can halt drug approval.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Cardiology
  • Drug Development

Background:

  • Pharmaceutical agents can interact with cardiac ion channels.
  • This interaction may lead to abnormal ventricular repolarization and QT interval prolongation.
  • QT interval prolongation can, in rare cases, cause life-threatening torsades de pointes arrhythmia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the significance of QT interval monitoring in pharmaceutical development.
  • To underscore the challenges and limitations of QT interval measurement as a predictor of arrhythmia.
  • To emphasize the impact of QT interval prolongation on drug approval.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on drug-induced QT interval prolongation.
  • Analysis of the relationship between QT interval changes and torsades de pointes.
  • Discussion of regulatory considerations for QT interval monitoring in drug development.

Main Results:

  • Drug interactions with cardiac ion channels are a known cause of QT prolongation.
  • Accurate QT interval measurement is difficult and an imperfect predictor of torsades de pointes.
  • Significant QT prolongation is a critical factor that can prevent drug approval.

Conclusions:

  • QT interval monitoring remains essential in pharmaceutical research despite measurement challenges.
  • Understanding the risk of drug-induced QT prolongation is vital for patient safety and drug development success.
  • Regulatory agencies closely scrutinize QT interval data during drug evaluation.
Keywords:
Cancer treatmentCardio-oncologyCardiotoxicityChemotherapyQT prolongationTorsades de pointes

More Related Videos

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies09:29

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies

Published on: September 30, 2016

14.2K
Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts10:27

Testing Targeted Therapies in Cancer using Structural DNA Alteration Analysis and Patient-Derived Xenografts

Published on: July 25, 2020

7.7K

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Clinical Trials: Overview01:11

Clinical Trials: Overview

Clinical development focuses on how the drug will interact with the human body and encompasses four key phases of clinical trials, each serving a specific purpose in assessing the safety and effectiveness of new drugs. These phases overlap and build upon one another. Phase I involves a small group of healthy volunteers (typically 20-80 individuals) or, in cases where significant toxicity is expected, patients with the targeted disease, such as cancer or AIDS. The volunteers are tested for...
Preclinical Development: Overview01:28

Preclinical Development: Overview

Preclinical development consists of a series of tests that ensure the safety and efficacy of a new therapeutic compound before it is tested in humans. There are four main phases to this process. First, safety pharmacology tests are conducted to ensure the drug does not produce any acutely harmful effects. These tests examine parameters such as bronchoconstriction, cardiac dysrhythmias, blood pressure changes, and ataxia. Next, preliminary toxicological testing is performed to determine the...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase01:11

Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

Genetic polymorphisms in drug targets have emerged as critical determinants of interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. Pharmacogenomic investigations increasingly focus on identifying these variations to personalize and optimize therapeutic interventions. A drug target may be a receptor, enzyme, or signaling protein involved in pharmacologic responses or disease-related pathways. While early pharmacogenetic studies focused primarily on drug metabolism, current research...