A new study published in Nature Cardiovascular Research may explain the mechanism behind previous research linking doxorubicin, a widely used chemotherapeutic drug, to severe cardiac damage. The study found the drug appears to trigger an immune response leading to heart stiffening and impaired function.
By uncovering the immune system’s role in this process, researchers hope to advance improved treatment strategies with fewer side effects, making cancer treatment safer for patients.
Study Details
Doxorubicin, used to treat various cancers, including breast and lymphoma, is known for its powerful cancer-fighting abilities. Researchers in the Netherlands describe it as “among the most used and useful chemotherapeutics” in a study published in The FEBS Journal. Cancer Research UK states that doxorubicin halts cancer cell growth by blocking topoisomerase, an enzyme essential for cell division.
Sheramy Tsai
Author
Sheramy Tsai, BSN, RN, is a seasoned nurse with a decade-long writing career. An alum of Middlebury College and Johns Hopkins, Tsai combines her writing and nursing expertise to deliver impactful content. Living in Vermont, she balances her professional life with sustainable living and raising three children.
