Cardiac side effects of chronic dasatinib (DA) exposure in juvenile growing rats

Background: Application of DA in adults with CML may lead to adverse cardiac effects (pleural & pericardial effusion, abnormal heart rate, organ hypertrophy). Understanding underlying mechanisms is crucial for the application of DA in pediatrics. Methods: DA was administered chronically [either standard (SD) or high dose (HD)) or intermittently HD (3 days “on”, 4 days “off”] via the drinking water to 4 week (w) old male rats for 10 w. Rats underwent regular ECG and cardiac ultrasound followed by necropsy to investigate heart weight. Results: Dose independently, heart weight increased in SD and HD after 2 w, 4 w,…