Cardiac Biomarkers in Early Detection of Cardiotoxicity in Patients Receiving Sunitinib or Sorafenib Chemotherapy

Early Detection of Cardiotoxicity During Sunitinib or Sorafenib Chemotherapy Using Cardiac Biomarkers

This trial studies how well cardiac biomarkers work in the early detection of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving sunitinib malate or sorafenib chemotherapy. Some chemotherapies are known to cause damage to heart muscle cells, resulting in heart failure. Often, the damage is not detected until heart failure has already occurred. Testing for cardiac biomarkers, such as troponin I and/or T and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), may be useful in detecting heart damage earlier than other tests currently performed (such as echocardiogram and electrocardiogram).

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine if specific biomarkers (troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP]) detect cardiotoxicity earlier than standard clinical means in patients receiving sunitinib malate (SU11248) or sorafenib chemotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To prospectively evaluate the incidence and severity of cardiac toxicity related to sunitinib or sorafenib during chemotherapy.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive sunitinib malate or sorafenib chemotherapy then undergo blood collection 2 weeks later, and then every 4-6 weeks for up to 6 months to test for troponin I and BNP.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient age 18-85 years
• Starting a new course of chemotherapy at MD Anderson Cancer Center that includes sunitinib or sorafenib
• Has a life expectancy of greater than 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unstable angina within the last 3 months
• Myocardial infarction within the last 3 months
• Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 40%
• Decompensated heart failure (HF) in the last 3 months