Cancer Drug May Cause Heart Failure

Herceptin, also known as the generic Trastuzumab, is commonly used by women with breast cancer. About 25 percent of women with breast cancer marked by the aggressor HER2 take the drug along with chemotherapy. It is thought that there is no other drug that works as well to treat HER2. The drug is thought to cut the chances of recurring cancer by half and reduce cancer mortality rates by one-third. Unfortunately, studies are finding the drug to be very dangerous, increasing chances of heart failure.

When the drug was first tested, clinical trials found that one in ten women might have an increased chance of heart failure, but a new study conducted by the St. Boniface Research Centre found that that number is one in four. The study tested 152 Herceptin users and found that36 of them experienced heart failure. Developing heart failure is a large price to pay for become cancer-free.

Researchers are hoping that heart failure could be lessened by early detection and then early prevention. They are now studying mice with an imaging system called Tissue Doppler to find out about muscle behavior and to see if early detected can cut risks. The are only recruiting women to see if the effects can be duplicated on humans and if early detection of heart problems can keep damage from occurring.

The study points the fact that early screening and attentive monitoring should be a part of the drug’s care.









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