Impact of dexrazoxane on long-term heart function in survivors of childhood cancer

For survivors of childhood cancer treated with doxorubicin, dexrazoxane is cardioprotective for at least 5 years. Longer-term data are lacking. A pooled analysis of 5 studies (n=195 patients) found that among survivors of childhood cancer assessed on average 18 years after cancer diagnoses, those assigned to doxorubicin with dexrazoxane were significantly more likely to have preserved left ventricular function and lower myocardial stress compared with the group assigned to doxorubicin alone. This cardioprotective effect was primarily observed in survivors treated with greater cumulative doxorubicin doses (250 mg/m² or greater).