Investigation of chemotherapy-induced cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer

Although recent advancements in cancer treatment have significantly improved survival rates, they have also raised concerns regarding severe adverse effects, including cardiotoxicity. We conducted a prospective study at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana to assess chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction in newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed breast cancer cases. Among 97 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, 13 (13.4%) developed left ventricular dysfunction (LVD), predominantly in younger patients with left-sided breast involvement (64.9%). A significant association was found between estrogen receptor (ER) positivity and LVD risk (P = 0.03), with 15.4% of LVD patients also being hypertensive. The incidence of LVD was notably high at 38.5% among patients receiving trastuzumab, while cumulative doses of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide did not show significant correlation with LVD. Recovery was promising, with 76.9% of affected patients demonstrating significant improvement post-treatment. These findings highlight the need for continuous cardiac monitoring and personalized treatment strategies to mitigate LVD risk.