Association of genetic polymorphisms NCF4 rs1883112, CBR3 rs1056892, and ABCC1 rs3743527 with the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objectives: Cardiotoxicity is a frequent complication secondary to the use of anthracyclines for cancer chemotherapy. Evidence suggests that certain polymorphic genetic variants modify the risk for anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity. Reports documenting the impact of genetic polymorphisms on anthracycline-cardiotoxicity risk in pediatric patients with cancers from Latin American countries are scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate associations between NCF4 rs1883112, CBR3 rs1056892 and ABCC1 rs3743527 genotype status and echocardiographic parameters indicative of anthracycline-cardiotoxicity in a group of Mexican children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Methods: Sixty-seven children (2-18 years old) with ALL were treated at the State Cancer Center in Durango, Mexico. NCF4, CBR3, and ABCC1 genotypes were examined by real-time PCR. Left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic filling ratio were examined as markers of systolic and diastolic anthracycline-toxicity.

Results: NCF4 rs1883112 genotype status was significantly associated with the risk of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity [odds ratio (OR) = 10.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.69-68.98, P = 0.01]. There was a significant association between heterozygous CBR3 rs1056892 genotype status and anthracycline-cardiotoxicity risk (OR = 9.91, 95% CI 1.07-91.47, P = 0.04). Heterozygosis for the ABCC1 rs3743527 allele was associated with protection from anthracycline-cardiotoxicity (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.09-0.91, P = 0.03).

Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that selected polymorphic variants may impact the risk for anthracycline-cardiotoxicity in pediatric patients with ALL treated with a contemporary chemotherapeutic regimen in Mexico.