Use of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide to assess left ventricular function after adjuvant doxorubicin therapy in early breast cancer patients: a prospective series.

Background And Objective: Anthracyclines are well established and highly efficacious antineoplastic agents for various haematopoietic and solid tumours, such as breast cancer. The main adverse effect of anthracycline therapy is cardiotoxicity. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the role of plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in assessing left ventricular function in early breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline treatment.