Protective drug dexrazoxane reduces heart damage in pediatric cancer survivors years after treatment ends

A new study has found that the drug dexrazoxane significantly reduces heart damage in pediatric cancer survivors, even years after their treatment has ended. This research, the first large, long-term study on the topic, suggests that patients who received dexrazoxane during chemotherapy may have healthier hearts decades later. Chemotherapy, while effective against cancer cells, can also harm healthy cells, including the heart, particularly in young patients.

The study followed nearly 900 childhood cancer survivors, including 230 who were followed for at least a decade and almost 200 tracked for more than 15 years. It focused on patients who were treated with doxorubicin, a type of chemotherapy known to cause heart damage. Half of the patients in the study received dexrazoxane, which is now commonly prescribed to children as well.

The findings indicate that dexrazoxane use was associated with better echocardiographic cardiac function 15 or more years after therapy, with many survivors classified as having moderate rather than high cardiotoxicity risk. This could mean that dexrazoxane recipients may require less intensive screening after finishing treatment, although further studies are needed to validate this potential change in screening recommendations.