Song Chen1, Jia Zhong1, Hualei Zhang1, 2, Hui Qiao1, 3, Rachel S. Frank1, Jerry Glickson1, Rong Zhou1, 3
1Laboratories of Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; 2Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania; 3Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Doxorubicin (DOX) remains among the most potent and widely prescribed drug for treating breast, blood and pediatric cancers. However, severe cardiotoxicity continues to affect up to 20% of patients receiving DOX. Unfortunately, currently available methods in the clinic cannot predict or discriminate patients who will suffer from cardiomyopathy after exposure to DOX. Here we show spin labeling cardiac MR reveals an early decline in myocardial blood flow in response to DOX when LVEF is still normal. With further investigation, we hope to develop a sensitive, non-invasive prognostic tool to improve cardiac risk stratification in the management of DOX-treated patients.
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