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Updated: Sep 24, 2025

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Published on: February 22, 2013
Endothelial glycocalyx integrity in oncological patients
Kalliopi Keramida1, John Thymis2, Maria Anastasiou3
12nd Department of Cardiology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece; Cardiology Department, General Anti-Cancer, Oncological Hospital, Agios Savvas, Athens, Greece.
Cancer patients show impaired endothelial glycocalyx thickness, a marker of microvascular health, even before overt cardiotoxicity. This finding suggests perfused boundary region (PBR) measurements can help detect early cancer-related endothelial dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Oncology
- Microvascular Research
Background:
- Cardiovascular changes occur early in cancer patients, preceding cardiotoxicity.
- Chemotherapy can induce endothelial dysfunction, but endothelial glycocalyx data in cancer is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate endothelial glycocalyx integrity in cancer patients.
- To assess microvascular function using perfused boundary region (PBR) in cancer patients.
Main Methods:
- Studied 64 cancer patients and 32 controls, measuring PBR, Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AI), and echocardiographic parameters including global longitudinal strain (GLS).
Main Results:
- Cancer patients exhibited significantly increased PBR values (2.11 ± 0.36 μm and 2.65 ± 0.48 μm) compared to controls.
- Endothelial glycocalyx impairment was linked to cancer stage but independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and therapy.
- No significant differences were found in arterial stiffness (PWV, AI) between groups.
Conclusions:
- Endothelial glycocalyx thickness is significantly impaired in cancer patients without overt cardiotoxicity.
- PBR measurements may serve as an early indicator for detecting microvascular and endothelial toxicity in cancer patients.
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