Stem cells may unlock mystery of chemo-related heart damage

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: In order to be eligible to participate in this study, a subject must meet all of these criteria: 1. any proven cancer treated with curative intent; 2. age ≥ 18 and ≤ 50 years; 3. able to comply with the protocol; 4. signed written informed consent. There are specific inclusion criteria for every subject group: * severe toxicity during 1 to 3 cycles of anthracyclines; * ≥ 3 months after end of cancer treatment which included the maximum tolerable dose of anthracyclines without (severe) toxicity; * severe toxicity within 1 to 6 cycles of trastuzumab; * ≥ 3 months after end of cancer treatment which included a year of trastuzumab without (severe) toxicity. * severe toxicity during 1 to 3 cycles of cisplatin; * ≥ 1 year after end of cancer treatment which included high-dose cisplatin without toxicity; * severe toxicity during 1 to 3 cycles of bleomycin; * ≥ 1 year after end of cancer treatment which included high-dose bleomycin without toxicity. Severe toxicity is defined as any of grade 3 - 4 toxicity according to CTCAE 4.03. A potential subject who meets any of the following exclusion criteria will be excluded from participation in this study: 1. history of cardiovascular disease prior to start of cancer treatment, as evidenced by any of the following: symptomatic or treated cardiovascular disease prior to start of cancer treatment; LVEF \< 55% at any performed MUGA scan or echocardiography prior to start of cancer treatment; 2. any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol, or insufficient understanding of the Dutch language; 3. any contraindication for skin biopsy, including: extensive skin disorder precluding biopsy of unaffected skin; known allergy to local anaesthetics; use of anticoagulants and INR \> 3; 4. pregnant or lactating female. Furthermore, there are specific exclusion criteria for the control groups: 5. history of cardiovascular disease during or after cancer treatment, as evidenced by any of the following: any symptomatic or treated cardiovascular disease; LVEF \< 55% at any performed MUGA scan or echocardiography.