Abstract
Cancer and cardiovascular disease are the leading causes of death in the United Kingdom. Many systemic anticancer treatments are associated with short- and long-term cardiotoxicity. With improving cancer survival and an ageing population, identifying those patients at the greatest risk of cardiotoxicity from their cancer treatment is becoming a research priority and has led to a new subspecialty: cardio-oncology. In this concise review article, we discuss cardiotoxicity and systemic anticancer therapy, with a focus on chemotherapy. We also discuss the challenge of identifying those at risk and the role of precision medicine as we strive for a personalised approach to this clinical scenario.
Highlights
Survival for patients with cancer has increased in recent decades; doubling in the United Kingdom (UK) in the past forty years [1]
In the setting of paediatric cancers, survivors are 15× and 7× more likely to develop heart failure and die of cardiovascular disease, respectively, than their noncancer peers [8,9]. In those who develop cardiac dysfunction, prognosis is poor; a 24% 10-year mortality [10]. This has led to the development of a new field of interest in cardiology, cardio-oncology, which focuses on the detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases occurring as a result of chemotherapy as well as radiotherapy [11]
Bevacizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that binds to the ligand of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), inhibiting its binding to endothelial cells
Summary
Survival for patients with cancer has increased in recent decades; doubling in the United Kingdom (UK) in the past forty years [1] This improvement has, in part, been driven by the development of novel systemic anticancer therapies (including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapies) and a focus on biomarker-directed therapy [2]. The identification of a biomarker for those who are at risk of developing treatment-induced cardiotoxicity would enable a precision-medicine (utilising an individual’s genetics, demographics, or tissue to prevent, diagnose, or treat) personalised approach to therapy— in terms of immediate treatment, and in the approach to longitudinal monitoring and management In this concise review article, we will review treatment-induced cardiotoxicity in adult patients with cancer, with a focus on chemotherapeutics. We will discuss the potential future role of precision medicine in identifying those at risk of developing cardiotoxicity
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
