The Role of suPAR Biomarker in Blood Samples of Breast Cancer Patients During and Post Doxorubicin Chemotherapy: Causative vs. Predictor

Study Summary

This study looks to find a causative or predictive aspect of the suPAR biomarker for heart failure in breast cancer patients receiving Doxorubicin drug chemo regimen. suPAR is a circulating protein which can be found in blood and/or urine and is associated with both kidney and heart disease. * Hypothesis 1: Higher suPAR at baseline will predispose to Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy or heart failure, observed by histology (under the microscope and other lab techniques) in mouse models, and tested using heart ultrasound techniques in humans. * Hypothesis 2: suPAR is a marker of Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy or heart failure after exposure to Doxorubicin, observed by histology (under the microscope and other lab techniques) in mouse models, and tested in humans. The study will look at suPAR's association with three other biomarkers called troponin, B-Type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) and C- Reactive Protein (CRP) that are also associated with heart disease. In this study, the patient will have blood drawn as a routine part of the cancer treatment. That is prior to starting the cancer therapy, then after the first 2 and last 2 doxorubicin cycles (4 cycles altogether); as well as at 3, 6, \& 12 months after doxorubicin treatment. (6 Visits in total) The patient will also have an echocardiogram (echo, heart ultrasound) at each of these time points. The first of the six study echos is considered part of the routine care.