Stem cell-based screening methods may predict heart-related side effects of drugs

(Wiley) Coaxing stem cells from patients to become heart cells may help clinicians personalize drug treatments and prevent heart-related toxicity. A new review looks at the potential of this strategy, noting that these so-called human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes may be used in screening methods to determine which patients are at risk of experiencing heart-damaging effects of chemotherapy agents and other drugs.