New Insights on the Toxicity on Heart and Vessels of Breast Cancer Therapies

Chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity and its symptoms in patients with breast cancer: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity is a significant concern because it is a major cause of morbidity. This study aimed to provide in-depth information on the symptoms of chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity (CRCT) by exploring literature that concurrently reports the types and symptoms of CRCT in patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

A scoping review was performed according to an a priori protocol using the Joanna Briggs Institute's guidelines. The participants were patients with breast cancer. The concept was the literature of specifically reported symptoms directly matched with CRCT and the literature, in English, from 2010, and the context was open. The search strategy included four keywords: "breast cancer," "chemotherapy," "cardiotoxicity," and "symptoms." All types of research designs were included; however, studies involving patients with other cancer types, animal subjects, and symptoms not directly related to CRCT were excluded. Data were extracted and presented including tables and figures.

RESULTS

A total of 29 articles were included in the study, consisting of 23 case reports, 4 retrospective studies, and 2 prospective studies. There were no restrictions on the participants' sex; however, all of them were women, except for one case report. The most used chemotherapy regimens were trastuzumab, capecitabine, and doxorubicin or epirubicin. The primary CRCT identified were myocardial dysfunction and heart failure, followed by coronary artery disease, pulmonary hypertension, and other conditions. Major tests used to diagnose CRCT include echocardiography, electrocardiography, serum cardiac enzymes, coronary angiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. In all case reports, CRCT was diagnosed through an incidental checkup according to the patient's symptom presentation; however, only 10 of these studies showed a baseline checkup before chemotherapy. The five most common CRCT symptoms were dyspnea, chest pain, peripheral edema, fatigue, and palpitations, which were assessed by patient-reported symptom presentation rather than using a symptom assessment tool. Dyspnea with trastuzumab treatment and chest pain with capecitabine treatment were particularly characteristic. The time for first symptom onset after chemotherapy ranged from 1 hour to 300 days, with anthracycline-based regimens requiring 3-55 days, trastuzumab requiring 60-300 days, and capecitabine requiring 1-7 days.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review allowed data mapping according to the study design and chemotherapy regimens. Cardiac assessments for CRCT diagnosis were performed according to the patient's symptoms. There were approximately five types of typical CRCT symptoms, and the timing of symptom occurrence varied. Therefore, developing and applying a CRCT-specific and user-friendly symptom assessment tool are expected to help healthcare providers and patients manage CRCT symptoms effectively.

Anthracyclines-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction: What Every Clinician Should Know

Chemotherapies have changed the prognosis of patients affected by cancer over the last 20 years, with a significant increase in survival rates. However, they can cause serious adverse effects that may limit their use. In particular, anthracyclines, widely used to treat both hematologic cancers and solid cancers, may cause cardiac toxicity, leading to the development of heart failure in some cases. This review aims to explore current evidence with regards to anthracyclines' cardiotoxicity, with particular focus on the classifications and underlying molecular mechanisms, in order to provide an overview on the current methods of its diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. An attentive approach and a prompt management of patients undergoing treatment with anthracyclines is imperative to avoid preventable antineoplastic drug discontinuation and is conducive to improving both short-term and long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Long-term and real-life incidence of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity in patients with breast cancer: a Swedish cohort study

Background

The administration of anticancer drugs in females with comorbidity increases the risk for cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity (CTR-CVT), which in turn contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Furthermore, a pathophysiological connection between cancer and cardiovascular disease may exist.

Objective

To assess the long-term risks and predictors of CTR-CVT, including clinical hypertension (HT), coronary artery disease (CAD), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as all-cause mortality in women diagnosed with early breast cancer (BC) and eligible for adjuvant chemotherapy in Sweden.

Methods

Data were extracted from Swedish registers and medical records on 433 women, 18-60 years of age, diagnosed 1998-2002 with lymph node-positive BC, and considered for adjuvant chemotherapy. CTR-CVT was defined as HT, CAD, HF, or AF after the diagnosis of BC. Follow-up was from the date of BC diagnosis until November 30, 2021, or death. Prevalence of CTR-CVT and all-cause mortality were calculated. Hazard ratios (HR) were determined for factors associated with CTR-CVT.

Results

The median age was 50 (interquartile range (IQR) 32) years. 910 CTR-CVT events were diagnosed in 311 women with a median of 19.3 (IQR 15,3) years follow-up. The proportions of CTR-CVT events were: HT 281 (64%); CAD 198 (46%); HF 206 (47%); and AF 225 (51%). The cumulative incidence of CTR-CVT was 71.8%, and 50% of all 433 patients developed CTR-CVT within 11.7 years of BC diagnosis (standard deviation (SD) 0.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) 10.6-12.9). Age was a risk factor for CTR-CVT. Anthracycline increased the risk for HF (p=0,001; HR 2,0; 95%CI 1,4-2,8), CAD (p= 0,002; HR 1,7; 95% CI 1,2-2,4), and AF (p=0,013; HR 1,5; 95% CI 1,0-2,0). At the end of the 24-year study period, 227 of the 433 women were alive, and the total cumulative mortality was 47,6%.

Conclusion

The prevalence of CTR-CVT and all-cause mortality is high after BC diagnosis and treatment, particularly in older patients and those receiving anthracyclines. These findings and the onset of CTR-CVT support cardio-oncology guidelines recommending initial risk stratification and cardiovascular monitoring during treatment, followed by long-term annual screening for cardiovascular risk factors and CTR-CVT among BC survivors.

New Concepts in Cardio-Oncology

Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the two major causes of morbidity and mortality in worldwide. Discovering new therapeutic agents for the management of breast cancer (BC) has increased the numbers of cancer survivors but with the risk of cardiovascular adverse events (CV-AEs). All drugs can potentially damage the cardiovascular system, with different types of clinical manifestations from ischemic myocardial disease to vasculitis, thrombosis or pericarditis. An early detection of CV-AEs guarantees an earlier treatment, which is associated with better outcomes. Cardio-oncology field enlarged its studies to improve prevention, monitoring and treatment of all cardiotoxic manifestations related to old or modern oncological agents. A multidisciplinary approach with a close partnership between oncologists and cardiologists is essential for an optimal management and therapeutic decision-making. The aim of this chapter is to review all types of cardiotoxic manifestations related to novel and old agents approved for treatment of BC patients including chemotherapy, anti-HER2 agents, cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors, PolyADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, antiangiogenic drugs and immunotherapy. We also focused our discussion on prevention, monitoring, treatment, and management of CV-AEs.

Natural Taxanes: From Plant Composition to Human Pharmacology and Toxicity

Biologically active taxanes, present in small- to medium-sized evergreen conifers of various Taxus species, are widely used for their antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects, but mostly for their antitumour effects used in the treatment of solid tumours of the breast, ovary, lung, bladder, prostate, oesophagus and melanoma. More of the substances found in Taxus plant extracts have medical potential. Therefore, at the beginning of this review, we describe the methods of isolation, identification and determination of taxanes in different plant parts. One of the most important taxanes is paclitaxel, for which we summarize the pharmacokinetic parameters of its different formulations. We also describe toxicological risks during clinical therapy such as hypersensitivity, neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, haematological, skin and renal toxicity and toxicity to the respiratory system. Since the effect of the drug-form PTX is enhanced by various Taxus spp. extracts, we summarize published clinical intoxications and all fatal poisonings for the Taxus baccata plant. This showed that, despite their significant use in anticancer treatment, attention should also be focused on the risk of fatal intoxication due to ingestion of extracts from these plants, which are commonly found in our surroundings.