Cancer Drug Causes Heart Failure

Ivanhoe Newswire
Monday, July 24, 2006; 12:00 AM

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The cancer drug Gleevec can be dangerous to the heart, and other similar drugs may be as well, according to researchers from the Center for Translational Medicine at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.

They found in mice and heart cell culture studies that Gleevec can cause heart failure. This study was prompted by 10 leukemia patients who developed severe congestive heart failure while taking Gleevec.

Researchers say, "While the cancer is treated effectively, there will be some percentage of patients who could experience significant left ventricular dysfunction and even heart failure from this."

They continue, "Gleevec is a wonderful drug, and patients with these diseases need to be on it. We're trying to call attention to the fact that Gleevec and other similar drugs coming along could have significant side effects of the heart, and clinicians need to be aware of this."

Part of the problem is newer drugs tend to hit multiple cancer cell targets at once to increase effectiveness, explain the study authors. It is therefore necessary to find the exact target that, when inhibited, can cause problems with the heart in order to counteract this effect with other agents.

This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical Alerts by e-mail every day of the week. To subscribe, go to: http://www.ivanhoe.com/newsalert/.

SOURCE: Nature Medicine, published online June 23, 2006