Advancing The Cardiovascular Care in Cancer Patients on Chemotherapy

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cardiotoxicity, or Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction (CTRCD), is a major chemotherapy side effect affecting 10% of patients.
• The incidence of CTRCD is expected to rise with increased use of cardiotoxic cancer therapies.
• Comorbidities like diabetes and hypertension in cancer patients complicate CTRCD management and outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss assessment methods for CTRCD.
• To provide clinical practice guidance for managing cardiotoxicity during cancer treatment.
• To explore strategies for preventing CTRCD.

Main Methods:

• Echocardiography, including Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) and Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS), is key for screening and diagnosis.
• Cardiotoxicity assessment can occur before, during, or after chemotherapy based on clinical status.
• Risk stratification scores for cardiotoxicity are lacking in many cancer treatment centers.

Main Results:

• Physicians must carefully manage chemotherapy doses (continue, halt, delay, reduce) to mitigate cardiotoxicity.
• Pre-treatment cardiovascular risk factor reduction and lifestyle advice are essential.
• Evidence-based cardiotoxicity risk scores are needed for better patient stratification.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of CTRCD requires comprehensive screening, risk stratification, and personalized treatment adjustments.
• Integrating cardiovascular care into oncology is vital for improving cancer patient survival and quality of life.
• Further research and implementation of evidence-based guidelines are necessary to combat chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.