Interleukin-6 in Anthracycline-Related Cardiac Dysfunction: A Comparison with Myeloperoxidase and TNF-Alpha

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Biomarkers

Background:

• Proinflammatory cytokines like IL-6, MPO, and TNF-α are implicated in cardiovascular and oncological diseases.
• Cancer therapy, particularly anthracycline treatment, can lead to cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD).
• Identifying reliable biomarkers for early CTRCD detection is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate the clinical utility of IL-6, MPO, and TNF-α as biomarkers for CTRCD in anthracycline-treated patients.
• To assess the correlation between these biomarkers and the incidence and severity of CTRCD.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study of 80 patients receiving anthracycline therapy.
• Baseline assessment included clinical risk factors, laboratory markers (IL-6, MPO, TNF-α), echocardiography with GLS, and coronary CT angiography (CAC score).
• Patients were monitored for CTRCD development and severity.

Main Results:

• CTRCD was diagnosed in 62.4% of patients during follow-up.
• Higher baseline IL-6 levels were observed in high-risk patients compared to moderate-risk patients (p=0.018).
• Elevated IL-6 levels significantly correlated with increased CTRCD grade and were independently associated with CTRCD diagnosis in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions:

• Interleukin-6 (IL-6) demonstrates potential as a valuable biomarker for detecting cardiac dysfunction in patients treated with anthracyclines.
• IL-6 may aid in the early identification of CTRCD, facilitating timely intervention.