Tamoxifen Use Correlates with Increased Risk of the First Episode of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease in Older Women with Breast Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Taiwan

Development and Validation of a Risk Score Model for Predicting the Cardiovascular Outcomes After Breast Cancer Therapy: The CHEMO-RADIAT Score

Background Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of mortality among survivors of breast cancer (BC). We developed a prediction model for major adverse cardiovascular events after BC therapy, which is based on conventional and BC treatment-related cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and Results The cohort of the study consisted of 1256 Asian female patients with BC from 4 medical centers in Korea and was randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the derivation and validation cohorts. The outcome measures comprised cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and transient ischemic attack/stroke. To correct overfitting, a penalized Cox proportional hazards regression was performed with a cross-validation approach. Number of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and transient ischemic attack/stroke), number of baseline cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, age ≥60, body mass index ≥30 kg/m², estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m², dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus), radiation to the left breast, and anthracycline dose per 100 mg/m² were included in the risk prediction model. The time-dependent C-indices at 3 and 7 years after BC diagnosis were 0.876 and 0.842, respectively, in the validation cohort. Conclusions A prediction score model, including BC treatment-related risk factors and conventional risk factors, was developed and validated to predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with BC. The CHEMO-RADIAT (congestive heart failure, hypertension, elderly, myocardial infarction/peripheral artery occlusive disease, obesity, renal failure, abnormal lipid profile, diabetes mellitus, irradiation of the left breast, anthracycline dose, and transient ischemic attack/stroke) score may provide overall cardiovascular risk stratification in survivors of BC and can assist physicians in multidisciplinary decision-making regarding the BC treatment.

Development and Validation of a Risk Score Model for Predicting the Cardiovascular Outcomes After Breast Cancer Therapy: The CHEMO-RADIAT Score

Background Cardiovascular disease is an important cause of mortality among survivors of breast cancer (BC). We developed a prediction model for major adverse cardiovascular events after BC therapy, which is based on conventional and BC treatment-related cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and Results The cohort of the study consisted of 1256 Asian female patients with BC from 4 medical centers in Korea and was randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the derivation and validation cohorts. The outcome measures comprised cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and transient ischemic attack/stroke. To correct overfitting, a penalized Cox proportional hazards regression was performed with a cross-validation approach. Number of cardiovascular diseases (myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and transient ischemic attack/stroke), number of baseline cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, age ≥60, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2, estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus), radiation to the left breast, and anthracycline dose per 100 mg/m2 were included in the risk prediction model. The time-dependent C-indices at 3 and 7 years after BC diagnosis were 0.876 and 0.842, respectively, in the validation cohort. Conclusions A prediction score model, including BC treatment-related risk factors and conventional risk factors, was developed and validated to predict major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with BC. The CHEMO-RADIAT (congestive heart failure, hypertension, elderly, myocardial infarction/peripheral artery occlusive disease, obesity, renal failure, abnormal lipid profile, diabetes mellitus, irradiation of the left breast, anthracycline dose, and transient ischemic attack/stroke) score may provide overall cardiovascular risk stratification in survivors of BC and can assist physicians in multidisciplinary decision-making regarding the BC treatment.

Pathophysiology, Mechanism, and Outcome of Ischemic Stroke in Cancer Patients

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to assess the risk factors, biomarkers of stroke, mechanism, and outcomes of cerebral infarction among cancerous diseases.

MATERIALS & METHODS

156 patients presented by acute ischemic stroke were divided into two groups: the first group included 78 ischemic stroke patients associated with different types of cancer and the second group (control group) included 78 ischemic stroke patients not associated with cancer. Both groups were compared regarding the risk factors, previous thrombotic activity, subtypes, biomarkers of stroke, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Cancer patients presented by acute ischemic stroke were accompanied by a significantly less incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease, and atrial fibrillation than non-cancer patients (P < 0.001). While, levels of biomarkers of inflammation like erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein, and stroke biomarkers like fibrinogen, and D-dimer, all together were highly elevated in cancerous disease group of patients (P < 0.01). The prevalence of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and myocardial infarction was significantly higher in patients with cancer than in control patients without cancer (P = 0.008, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 respectively). The most common stroke etiologies were atherosclerosis of large arteries and stroke of undetermined cause in a cancerous group of patients. Cancer patients were accompanied by significant higher mortality rate (P = 0.005), and more disability as determined by mRS (P < 0.005) CONCLUSIONS: Pathophysiology and mechanism of ischemic stroke in cancerous disease patients were due to different risk factors, biomarkers of stroke, and subtypes in comparison with non- cancerous cases.

The independent risks and specific biomarker of breast cancer-related ischemic stroke

AIM

This retrospective study was designed to investigate the independent risks and specific biomarker for breast cancer-related ischemic stroke (BCRS).

METHODS

Clinical features and laboratory findings were compared between BCRS group and breast cancer group without stroke, and further multivariate analyses were performed to predict independent risks factors for BCRS patients. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was configured to estimate the diagnostic efficacy of each independent risk and the product of these risks and to obtain the optimal cut-off value of diagnosis, which was termed the BCRS Index.

RESULTS

BCRS patients had elevated plasma D-dimer and CA153 levels and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as more patients received endocrine therapy (all p ＜ 0.05). Moreover, multivariate analysis revealed that D-dimer levels (odds ratio [OR]: 1.002; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.001-1.003; p = 0.000), CA153 levels (OR: 1.005; 95% CI: 1.001-1.008; p = 0.007), PLR (OR: 1.010; 95% CI: 1.004-1.015; p = 0.001), and endocrine therapy (OR: 1.268; 95% CI: 1.087-1.479; p = 0.003) were identified as independent risks of BCRS. Furthermore, ROC analysis displayed that the product of risks had the best diagnostic efficacy, of which the area under the curve was 0.846 ± 0.28. The optimum cut-off point was 2.37 × 10⁶/mL, which was termed the BCRS Index with higher diagnostic accuracy and validity.

CONCLUSIONS

Endocrine therapy, as well as elevated plasma D-dimer and CA153 levels and PLR values may be independent risks for BCRS. Furthermore, BCRS Index should be served as a novel specific biomarker for BCRS, which is useful to distinguish BCRS for clinicians.

Association between tamoxifen use and acute myocardial infarction in women with breast cancer

The relationship between tamoxifen use and acute myocardial infarction in women with breast cancer remains uncertain. The goal of the study was to assess whether tamoxifen use could be associated with acute myocardial infarction in women with breast cancer in Taiwan.A population-based case-control study was conducted to analyze the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. Totally, 489 women with breast cancer aged 20 to 84 years having the first episode of acute myocardial infarction from 2000 to 2011 were found as the cases. In addition, 1718 women with breast cancer aged 20 to 84 years without any type of ischemic heart disease were selected as the matched controls. Ever use of tamoxifen was classified as the studied women who had at least a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. Never use of tamoxifen was classified as the studied women who never had a prescription for tamoxifen before the index date. We used the multivariable logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for acute myocardial infarction associated with tamoxifen use.In a multivariable-adjusted analysis, women with acute myocardial infarction were 1.71 times more likely to be exposed to tamoxifen than those women without acute myocardial infarction (adjusted OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.38-2.13).The odds of tamoxifen use are 1.71 times higher in women with acute myocardial infarction versus those women without acute myocardial infarction in Taiwan.

Correlation of the tamoxifen use with the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in elderly women with breast cancer: A case-control study

The association between tamoxifen use and risk of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in women with breast cancer has been reported in the Western population. The study aimed to evaluate the association between tamoxifen use and deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in older women with breast cancer in Taiwan.We conducted a retrospective case-control study using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. A total of 281 women subjects with breast cancer aged ≥65 years with newly diagnosed deep vein thrombosis/or pulmonary embolism from 2000 to 2011 were identified as the cases. Additionally, 907 women subjects with breast cancer aged ≥65 years without deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were randomly selected as the controls. The cases and the controls were matched with age and comorbidities. Ever use of tamoxifen was defined as subjects who had at least a prescription for tamoxifen before index date. Never use of tamoxifen was defined as subjects who never had a prescription for tamoxifen before index date. We used the multivariable logistic regression model to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI) of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism associated with tamoxifen use.After adjustment for confounding variables, the adjusted OR of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism was 1.95 for subjects with ever use of tamoxifen (95% CI 1.45, 2.62), as compared with never use of tamoxifen. In addition, atrial fibrillation (adjusted OR 3.73, 95% CI 1.89, 7.35) and chronic kidney disease (adjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.06, 2.80) were also associated with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism.Tamoxifen use is associated with 1.95-fold increased odds of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism among older women with breast cancer in Taiwan.

Synergistic effect of oral corticosteroids use on risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in high risk populations

OBJECTIVE

Little evidence is available on the relationship between oral corticosteroids use and hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to investigate whether oral corticosteroids use correlates with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in high risk populations in Taiwan.

METHODS

Using representative claims database established from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program with a population coverage rate of 99.6%, we identified 102,182 subjects aged 20-84 years with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma in 2000-2011 as the cases and 102,182 randomly selected subjects aged 20-84 years without hepatocellular carcinoma as the matched controls.

RESULTS

In subjects with any one of comorbidities including alcohol-related disease, chronic liver disease, and diabetes mellitus, the adjusted OR of hepatocellular carcinoma was 29.9 (95% CI 28.7, 31.1) for subjects with never use of oral corticosteroids, and the adjusted OR would increase to 33.7 (95% CI 32.3, 35.3) for those with ever use of oral corticosteroids. The adjusted OR of hepatocellular carcinoma was 1.03 for subjects with increasing cumulative duration of oral corticosteroids use for every one year (95% CI 1.01, 1.06), with a duration-dependent effect. The largest OR occurred in subjects with ever use of oral corticosteroids and concurrently comorbid with alcohol-related disease, chronic liver disease, and diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR 122.7, 95% CI 108.5, 138.8).

CONCLUSION

There is a synergistic effect between oral corticosteroids use and the traditional risk factors on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. People with risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma should receive regular ultrasound surveillance, particularly when they currently use oral corticosteroids.

Case-Control Study Examining the Association between Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors Use and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use and hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.

Methods: Using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program, we conducted a case-control study to identify 4901 subjects aged 20 years and more with newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma in 2000–2013 as the cases. We randomly selected 19604 subjects aged 20 years and more without hepatocellular carcinoma as the controls. Both cases and controls were matched with sex and age. Ever use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors was defined as a subject who had at least a prescription for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors before index date. Never use was defined as a subject who never had a prescription for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors before index date. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for hepatocellular carcinoma associated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use was estimated by the multivariable logistic regression model.

Results: Among subjects with any one of the comorbid conditions associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, the adjusted OR of hepatocellular carcinoma was 0.89 (95% CI 0.75, 1.06) for subjects with ever use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, comparing with never use.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that among subjects with any one of the comorbid conditions associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, no significant association can be detected between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors use and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors Use and Relative Risk of Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in a Case-Control Study

Background and Objectives: Limited research focuses on the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease associated with use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the association between DPP-4 inhibitors use and the first episode of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Methods: We designed a case-control study using the database of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Program. There were 1999 type 2 diabetic subjects aged 20-84 years with the first episode of ischemic cerebrovascular disease from 2000 to 2013 as the cases, and 7996 sex- and age-matched, randomly selected type 2 diabetic subjects aged 20-84 years without any type of cerebrovascular diseases as the matched controls. We estimated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of ischemic cerebrovascular disease associated with cumulative duration of DPP-4 inhibitors use by the multivariable logistic regression model. Results: After adjustment for confounding variables, the adjusted OR of ischemic cerebrovascular disease was 0.96 (95% CI 0.95, 0.97) in subjects with ever use of DPP-4 inhibitors as increase in use duration for every 1 month, compared with never use. The sub-analysis disclosed that the adjusted ORs of ischemic cerebrovascular disease were 1.57 (95% CI 1.36, 1.80) for subjects with cumulative duration of DPP-4 inhibitors use <1 year, and 0.70 (95% CI 0.57, 0.87) for subjects with cumulative duration of DPP-4 inhibitors use ≥1 year, compared with never use. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that DPP-4 inhibitors use correlates with relative risk reduction of the first episode of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in type 2 diabetic patients in a duration-dependent response. The beneficial effect will be marked when DPP-4 inhibitors use is ≥1 year.