Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract Background Anthracyclines are cornerstone chemotherapeutics, but cardiotoxicity limits their use. Objective This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various drugs in preventing and treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). Methods We conducted an extensive search across seven...

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Main Authors: Siyu Li, Wenrui Li, Mengfei Cheng, Xiaoxiao Wang, Wanyi Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:Cardio-Oncology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40959-025-00360-3
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author Siyu Li
Wenrui Li
Mengfei Cheng
Xiaoxiao Wang
Wanyi Chen
author_facet Siyu Li
Wenrui Li
Mengfei Cheng
Xiaoxiao Wang
Wanyi Chen
author_sort Siyu Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Anthracyclines are cornerstone chemotherapeutics, but cardiotoxicity limits their use. Objective This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various drugs in preventing and treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). Methods We conducted an extensive search across seven databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) pertinent to the prevention and treatment of AIC with medications. Subsequently, a Bayesian Model-based network meta-analysis was performed in the R 4.4.0. Results A total of 128 RCTs involving 10,431 cancer patients treated with anthracyclines and 78 drug regimens were included in this study. The network meta-analysis results showed that, compared with patients who did not receive cardioprotective drugs, those treated with Calcium Dibutyryladenosine Cyclophosphate (Mean Difference [95% Credible Interval], 8.760 [0.5917, 16.92]), Carvedilol (4.024 [0.5372, 7.656]), Carvedilol + Candesartan (7.934 [3.159, 12.91]), Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza + Levocarnitine (9.087 [0.9160, 17.25]), Dexrazoxane (5.066 [2.589, 7.540]), Dexrazoxane + Cinobufacini (11.61 [4.590, 18.70]), Dexrazoxane + Shenqi Fuzheng (13.05 [4.640, 21.40]), Nicorandil (14.24 [5.122, 23.31]), Qiliqiangxin (11.38 [2.826, 19.91]), and Xinmai Long (6.371 [1.735, 11.02]) experienced less decrease in LVEF after chemotherapy. The SUCRA ranking results indicated that the most effective treatment option for preserving LVEF was Nicorandil (SUCRA 91.76%). Conclusion Apart from Dexrazoxane, Carvedilol, a β-blocker, also appears to show significant potential in preventing AIC. Furthermore, our results indicate that there is insufficient evidence to support the beneficial effects of statins, Sildenafil, Ivabradine, Levocarnitine, N-acetylcysteine, Glutathione, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in preventing LVEF decline and exerting a positive effect on the prevention of AIC.
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series Cardio-Oncology
spelling doaj-art-84df1145bb074e1c8c26de201fc7a5ab2025-08-20T03:43:37ZengBMCCardio-Oncology2057-38042025-07-0111111910.1186/s40959-025-00360-3Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trialsSiyu Li0Wenrui Li1Mengfei Cheng2Xiaoxiao Wang3Wanyi Chen4Department of Pharmacy, Chongqing University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Pharmacy, Chongqing University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Pharmacy, Chongqing University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Pharmacy, Chongqing University Cancer HospitalDepartment of Pharmacy, Chongqing University Cancer HospitalAbstract Background Anthracyclines are cornerstone chemotherapeutics, but cardiotoxicity limits their use. Objective This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various drugs in preventing and treating anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC). Methods We conducted an extensive search across seven databases to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) pertinent to the prevention and treatment of AIC with medications. Subsequently, a Bayesian Model-based network meta-analysis was performed in the R 4.4.0. Results A total of 128 RCTs involving 10,431 cancer patients treated with anthracyclines and 78 drug regimens were included in this study. The network meta-analysis results showed that, compared with patients who did not receive cardioprotective drugs, those treated with Calcium Dibutyryladenosine Cyclophosphate (Mean Difference [95% Credible Interval], 8.760 [0.5917, 16.92]), Carvedilol (4.024 [0.5372, 7.656]), Carvedilol + Candesartan (7.934 [3.159, 12.91]), Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza + Levocarnitine (9.087 [0.9160, 17.25]), Dexrazoxane (5.066 [2.589, 7.540]), Dexrazoxane + Cinobufacini (11.61 [4.590, 18.70]), Dexrazoxane + Shenqi Fuzheng (13.05 [4.640, 21.40]), Nicorandil (14.24 [5.122, 23.31]), Qiliqiangxin (11.38 [2.826, 19.91]), and Xinmai Long (6.371 [1.735, 11.02]) experienced less decrease in LVEF after chemotherapy. The SUCRA ranking results indicated that the most effective treatment option for preserving LVEF was Nicorandil (SUCRA 91.76%). Conclusion Apart from Dexrazoxane, Carvedilol, a β-blocker, also appears to show significant potential in preventing AIC. Furthermore, our results indicate that there is insufficient evidence to support the beneficial effects of statins, Sildenafil, Ivabradine, Levocarnitine, N-acetylcysteine, Glutathione, Coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C in preventing LVEF decline and exerting a positive effect on the prevention of AIC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40959-025-00360-3AnthracyclinesCardiotoxicityRandomized controlled trialsNetwork meta-analysisSystematic review
spellingShingle Siyu Li
Wenrui Li
Mengfei Cheng
Xiaoxiao Wang
Wanyi Chen
Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Cardio-Oncology
Anthracyclines
Cardiotoxicity
Randomized controlled trials
Network meta-analysis
Systematic review
title Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_fullStr Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_full_unstemmed Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_short Prevention and treatment of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
title_sort prevention and treatment of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity a systematic review and network meta analysis of randomized controlled trials
topic Anthracyclines
Cardiotoxicity
Randomized controlled trials
Network meta-analysis
Systematic review
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40959-025-00360-3
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AT mengfeicheng preventionandtreatmentofanthracyclineinducedcardiotoxicityasystematicreviewandnetworkmetaanalysisofrandomizedcontrolledtrials
AT xiaoxiaowang preventionandtreatmentofanthracyclineinducedcardiotoxicityasystematicreviewandnetworkmetaanalysisofrandomizedcontrolledtrials
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