Evaluation of QTc Interval Prolongation in Breast Cancer Patients after Treatment with Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide, and Docetaxel and the Influence of Interobserver Variation.

Background: Chemotherapy with anthracyclines is associated with life-threatening electrocardiographic alterations including corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation.

Patients And Methods: In this study we assessed the effect of epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and docetaxel (EC-Doc) on the QTc interval in 10 patients with early breast cancer. Cardiac toxicity was assessed with symptoms, transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), and serum cardiac markers at baseline and after 4 cycles of EC and 4 cycles of docetaxel.