Childhood Cancer Drugs Cure Now, May Cause Problems Later, Research Shows

The recent study led by Javier G. Blanco, PhD, has investigated why some childhood cancer survivors who have been treated with anthracylines (powerful antibiotics) have developed cardiomyopathy, such as congestive heart failure, later in life. Blanco says that the key to individualizing any drug treatment lies in the way an individual is genetically coded to respond to a the drug once it enters the body, and then adjusting the does accordingly. The study, which began seven years ago, compared DNA genotypes of 170 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed with anthracycline-related cariomyopathy to a control group of 317 survivors without the disease. Through the study, it has been shown that the risk of cardiomyopathy was significantly increased among individuals with two copies of the "G" version of the CBR3 polymorphism when exposed to low or moderate doses of anthracycline. Despite the findings, Blanco says, further study is needed.

Link to the article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111216175244.htm