Project 466671

Breast cancer is a major public health concern in Canada. Although the current combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy may lead to a cure in the breast cancer setting, the administration of the anti-cancer drugs Doxorubicin and Trastuzumab (DOX+TRZ), two of the most effective anti-cancer drugs available for women with breast cancer, is associated with an increased risk of developing heart failure. Cardio-Oncology is an evolving discipline that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of cancer patients who are at risk of developing heart problems as a result of their cancer treatment. Dietary interventions represent a complementary approach for the treatment of women with breast cancer. In the present study, we will explore whether flaxseed can treat heart failure caused by the anti-cancer drugs DOX and TRZ. We will use a female animal model where mice will receive one or both of these anti-cancer drugs. Over a 6-week time period, female mice will be exposed to DOX, TRZ, or a combination of the two anti-cancer drugs followed by a milled flaxseed diet or perindopril (blood pressure lowering medication). We anticipate that flaxseed and perindopril will be equally effective in treating heart failure caused by DOX+TRZ. Once we obtain the basic science information from this study, we will have the unique opportunity to undertake a clinical trial to test the treatment effects of flaxseed in women with breast cancer. The results of this program will have a significant impact on improving the cardiovascular outcomes in women with breast cancer in Canada.