Interleukin-6 as a potential biomarker of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction: A comparative analysis with myeloperoxidase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Background The study aimed to prospectively investigate the clinical value of interleukin-6 (IL-6), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-alpha) as potential biomarkers of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in patients receiving anthracycline treatment. Methods In all patients, risk factors were collected, laboratory tests (including IL-6, MPO and TNF-alpha) and echocardiography with global longitudinal strain (GLS) were performed. Results A total of 80 patients were included, with 77 (96.25%) followed for an average for 11.5 months. The mean age at baseline was 60.5 years, and 72 (93.51%) were women. During observation, five patients (6.49%) died, including two due to heart failure and three due to cancer progression. The majority of patients (59, 76.6%) had breast cancer, 11 (14.3%) had sarcoma, and 7 (9.1%) had lymphoma. During observation, any degree of CTRCD was diagnosed in 48 (62.4%) patients. Mild CTRCD occurred in 38 (49.4%) patients, moderate CTRCD was diagnosed in 7 (9.1%) and severe in 3 (3.9%). In patients with high baseline risk, IL-6 levels were significantly elevated compared to those with moderate risk (p = 0.018). Higher levels of IL-6 were found to correlate with an increased grade of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). In a multivariate repeated measures model of the biomarkers studied, only a higher level of IL-6 was significantly associated with the diagnosis of CTRCD. Conclusions Among the novel biomarkers studied, we found evidence for IL-6 for its potential use in the early detection of cardiac dysfunction related to cancer therapy in patients treated with anthracyclines.