Myostatin as a Marker for Doxorubicin Induced Cardiac Damage.

Purpose. Doxorubicin (DXR) is an effective chemotherapeutic agent but causes severe cardiac failure over known doses. Thus, early detection and prevention of cardiac damage is important. Various markers have been tested for early detection of cardiac damage. Myostatin is a protein produced in skeletal muscle cells inhibits muscle differentiation and growth during myogenesis. Methods. We evaluated the role of myostatin as a marker for showing DXR induced cardiac damage and compared with well known cardiac markers like NT-proBNP, hs-TnT and CK in a rat model of chronic DXR cardiotoxicity. Results. Myostatin, NT-proBNP, and hs-TnT but not CK rose significantly during DXR treatment. Conclusion. Myostatin can be used as an early marker of DXR induced cardiotoxicity.