ABSTRACT
Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy still remains a major health concern due to the improved survival rate of cancer patients. In spite of signicant advances in cancer chemotherapy and treatment of heart failure, we are still far from a cure for this important side effect. Many studies have been done to minimize this cardiac side effect as well as to develop an effective cardioprotective strategy by understanding the mechanisms involved in this complex disease. Among the multiple mechanisms proposed, oxidative stress is considered to play a major role in the development of this unique type of heart failure. Vitamin C serves as a potent antioxidant in water phase due to its high solubility, and it is also potentially effective in the lipid phase through the regeneration of Vitamin E. This chapter focuses on the role of oxidative stress in doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and protection by antioxidant Vitamin C.
