Sacubitril-Valsartan for the Prevention of Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity in Patients With Elevated Cardiac Troponin I Concentration During Chemotherapy: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial: The SARAH Trial

L Luka David Lechinewski (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) A Amanda de Nadai Costa (Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Institute of Neurology of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (R.d.A.T., A.d.N.C.).) A Andressa de Oliveira Coiradas (Department of Cardiology, Division of Heart Failure, Santa Casa of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., A.d.O.C.).) E Edimar Alcides Bocchi (Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).) J Julyana Maiolino (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) L Laís Contin (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) L Larissa Arlete Mosko (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) L Lídia Ana Zytynski Moura (Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (L.A.Z.M.).) L Luka David Leichinewski M Marcely Gimenes Bonatto (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) M Márcio Sommer Bittencourt (Center for Clinical and Epidemiologic Research, Hospital Universitario, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L., I.M.B., M.S.B.)) M Mônica Samuel Avila (Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).) N Nadya Rocumback Alves da Costa (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) R Rafael de Almeida Torres (Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Institute of Neurology of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (R.d.A.T., A.d.N.C.).) S Sanderson Cauduro (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) S Sílvia Moreira Ayub Ferreira (Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).) T Talita Beithum Ribeiro Mialski (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).) T Tammy Tiemy Ota (Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The clinical effects of sacubitril-valsartan, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, on anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity remain unknown. Experimental evidence suggests cardioprotective properties. This study evaluated the efficacy of sacubitril-valsartan in reducing cardiotoxicity in patients with increased cardiac troponin I concentrations during anthracycline chemotherapy. METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled 114 patients with elevated cardiac troponin I levels during anthracycline treatment. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive either sacubitril-valsartan or placebo for 6 months, with a target dose of 97/103 mg twice daily. The primary end point was the occurrence of a >15% reduction in the global longitudinal strain from baseline to 6 months. Secondary end points included changes in biomarkers, echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance parameters, and adverse events. This trial was initially conceptualized as a pilot investigation because of its exploratory nature. Data were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Among the randomized patients, 90% were women, and 80.7% had breast cancer. The primary end point occurred in 4 patients (7%) in the sacubitril-valsartan group and 14 patients (25%) in the placebo group (odds ratio, 0.23 [95% CI, 0.07–0.75]; P= 0.015). The sacubitril-valsartan group showed a 2.5% improvement in global longitudinal strain, whereas the placebo group experienced a 7.6% decline ( P <0.001). No significant differences in changes in cardiac troponin I or NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide) were observed. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure <100 mm Hg) occurred more frequently in the sacubitril-valsartan group than in the placebo group (8 cases versus 1 case; P =0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The SARAH trial (Sacubitril-Valsartan for the Prevention of Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity in Patients With Elevated hs-cTnI Concentrations During Chemotherapy) demonstrated the potential of sacubitril-valsartan therapy to reduce the incidence of left ventricular dysfunction, as assessed by global longitudinal strain, in patients with elevated high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I after anthracycline treatment. REGISTRATION: URL: https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-5q4gm5b ; UTN code: U1111-1274-1961.

Article Details

Journal Circulation
Volume / Issue Vol. 152, Issue 25
Published December 23, 2025
Pages 1742-1755
ISSN 0009-7322
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Circulation

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0009-7322 Health Sciences

Authors (18)

L

Luka David Lechinewski

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

A

Amanda de Nadai Costa

Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Institute of Neurology of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (R.d.A.T., A.d.N.C.).

A

Andressa de Oliveira Coiradas

Department of Cardiology, Division of Heart Failure, Santa Casa of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., A.d.O.C.).

E

Edimar Alcides Bocchi

Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).

J

Julyana Maiolino

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

L

Laís Contin

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

L

Larissa Arlete Mosko

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

L

Lídia Ana Zytynski Moura

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (L.A.Z.M.).

L

Luka David Leichinewski

M

Marcely Gimenes Bonatto

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

M

Márcio Sommer Bittencourt

Center for Clinical and Epidemiologic Research, Hospital Universitario, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil (P.A.L., I.M.B., M.S.B.)

M

Mônica Samuel Avila

Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).

N

Nadya Rocumback Alves da Costa

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

R

Rafael de Almeida Torres

Department of Cardiovascular Imaging, Institute of Neurology of Curitiba Hospital, Paraná, Brazil (R.d.A.T., A.d.N.C.).

S

Sanderson Cauduro

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

S

Sílvia Moreira Ayub Ferreira

Heart Failure Clinics, Instituto do Coração (Incor), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil (M.G.B., M.S.A., S.M.A.F., E.A.B.).

T

Talita Beithum Ribeiro Mialski

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).

T

Tammy Tiemy Ota

Department of Cardiology, Division of Cardio-Oncology, Erasto Gaertner Hospital, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil (M.G.B., L.D.L., N.R.A.d.C., T.B.R.M., J.M., T.T.O., L.C., L.A.M., S.C.).