The hypertensive effect of sorafenib is abolished by sildenafil

Established and Emerging Cancer Therapies and Cardiovascular System: Focus on Hypertension-Mechanisms and Mitigation

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are 2 of the leading causes of death worldwide. Although improvements in outcomes have been noted for both disease entities, the success of cancer therapies has come at the cost of at times very impactful adverse events such as cardiovascular events. Hypertension has been noted as both, a side effect as well as a risk factor for the cardiotoxicity of cancer therapies. Some of these dynamics are in keeping with the role of hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor not only for heart failure, but also for the development of coronary and cerebrovascular disease, and kidney disease and its association with a higher morbidity and mortality overall. Other aspects such as the molecular mechanisms underlying the amplification of acute and long-term cardiotoxicity risk of anthracyclines and increase in blood pressure with various cancer therapeutics remain to be elucidated. In this review, we cover the latest clinical data regarding the risk of hypertension across a spectrum of novel anticancer therapies as well as the underlying known or postulated pathophysiological mechanisms. Furthermore, we review the acute and long-term implications for the amplification of the development of cardiotoxicity with drugs not commonly associated with hypertension such as anthracyclines. An outline of management strategies, including pharmacological and lifestyle interventions as well as models of care aimed to facilitate early detection and more timely management of hypertension in patients with cancer and survivors concludes this review, which overall aims to improve both cardiovascular and cancer-specific outcomes.

VEGF Receptor Inhibitor-Induced Hypertension: Emerging Mechanisms and Clinical Implications

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

While vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors (VEGFRis) have dramatically improved cancer survival, these drugs cause hypertension in a majority of patients. This side effect is often dose limiting and increases cardiovascular mortality in cancer survivors. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and clinical findings that impact management of VEGFRi-induced hypertension.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent studies define new connections between endothelial dysfunction and VEGFRi-induced hypertension, including the balance between nitric oxide, oxidative stress, endothelin signaling, and prostaglandins and the potential role of microparticles, vascular smooth muscle cells, vascular stiffness, and microvessel rarefaction. Data implicating genetic polymorphisms that might identify patients at risk for VEGFRi-induced hypertension and the growing body of literature associating VEGFRi-induced hypertension with antitumor efficacy are reviewed. These recent advances have implications for the future of cardio-oncology clinics and the management of VEGFRi-induced hypertension.