ABSTRACT
Background: Colorectal carcinoma is treated successfully with 5-fluorouacil and leucovorin in combination with oxaliplatin. Although, the major adverse effects with this combination [FOLFOX] are hematological and gastrointestinal, a few cases of cardiac adverse effects have also reported. The effects on serum markers of cardiac status are yet to be investigated
Objectives: The clinical study is designed to assess the effects on cardiac biomarkers and enzymes in patients of colorectal carcinoma undergoing chemotherapy
Methods: Thirty eight patients with histologically confirmed colorectal carcinoma, subjected to different schedules of oxaliplatin based chemotherapy [FOLFOX] were included in the study. The serum biomarkers were assessed after each alternate cycle of treatment and compared with the pretreatment value. The individual case of elevation in cardiac biomarkers [CPK, Tropinin I, LDL and TGS] beyond diagnostic risk level were also assessed
Results: CPK and Tropinin I levels were significantly altered in FOLFOX patients after alternate cycles of treatment. High level of TGS was reported in 48% of the patients in FOLFOX4 treatment arm
Conclusion: The CPK levels and Tropinin I levels were adversely affected in FOLFOX7 schedule