Long Non-Coding RNA, Apoptosis, and Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of many types of solid and hematologic malignancies. However, it causes several adverse effects. Cardiotoxicity is the most important collateral effect because it can lead to the development of heart failure, a chronic condition with high mortality, reaching with a 1-year risk of 15-30% and a 5-year risk of up to 75% in specific populations.

The pathophysiology of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity is not completely understood. Classical pathways are involved such as direct damage to DNA, oxidative stress, inflammation, alteration in intracellular calcium transient, inhibition of muscle protein-related genes, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of cell death pathways, such as apoptosis. However, new mechanisms have gained more importance in the last decade, mainly in the genetic field.

[…]