Cisplatin Linked to Cardiac Complications in Testicular Ca Patients

Long-term survivors of testicular cancer treated with cisplatin-based chemotherapy have evidence of endothelial injury and dysfunction, compared with those who did not receive chemotherapy, according to a University of Pennsylvania study (Cancer 112:1949-1953, 2008). In the cross-sectional study, David J. Vaughn , MD, and colleagues assessed cardiovascular risk, subclinical atherosclerosis, and endothelial function in 24 long-term survivors. The cisplatin patients had reduced mean brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation and significantly higher mean soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (SICAM-1) levels. Dr. Vaughn suggested that biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction could potentially identify asymptomatic long-term testicular cancer survivors who are at increased risk of cardiovascular events.