New Biomarkers in Screening Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity Only with Peripheral Blood Sampling

Abstract

Because oxidative stress after administration of doxorubicin was identified as playing a central role in cardiac dysfunction, we hypothesized that the expression (or overexpression) of TLR2 and TLR4 contributes to the pathogenesis of doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are members of the interleukin-1 receptor family (IL1) and are involved in the ability to react to the molecular trigger associated with pathogenic microorganisms. Recent studies have shown that TLR receptors are activated by endogenous signals, such as heat shock proteins and oxidative stress, which can contribute to congestive heart failure. Until recently, the best detection method for cardiotoxicity induced by anthracyclines was myocardial biopsy. Other early screening and early diagnosis methods (biomarkers—cardiac troponins and natriuretic peptide) have not yet proven their efficacy. Our proposed method is a new, revolutionary one that does not imply any kind of physical (and psychic) aggression on the patient: the targeted genetic (TLR2/TLR4) analysis of the human peripheral blood (which is a minimally invasive procedure)