Long-term echocardiographic assessment of descendants of gestational breast cancer patients exposed to anthracycline-based chemotherapy

Abstract

Abstract Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Although gestational breast cancer (GBC) accounts only for a small amount of diagnosis, the incidence is increasing due to delayed childbearing. Treating GBC is a significant challenge, having to maintain a balance between effective treatment for the patient and safety for the descendants. Anthracycline-based chemotherapy (AC) remains to be the systemic treatment of choice in many GBC patients. Although AC in GBC appears to be safe for the descendants, data on the long-term cardiotoxic effects of AC are scarce. Purpose To evaluate long-term cardiotoxicity on descendants of GBC patients exposed to AC during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Methods We retrospectively recruited descendants of GBC patients and classified them according to AC exposure (case group and non-exposed control group). We performed a thorough echocardiographic assessment. Results We identified 7 GBC patients that received AC during pregnancy (n=6) or breastfeeding (n=1). All of them were diagnosed during the second or third trimester. Median cumulative anthracycline dose was 508mg/m2. A total of 8 cases and 5 controls were recruited. Median age at echocardiographic assessment was 10 years in cases and 8 years in controls. None of them had known prior cardiac disease. Echocardiographic parameters were within normal values in both groups (Table 1). Conclusion A long-term echocardiographic assessment showed no abnormalities in a series of descendants of GBC exposed to AC during pregnancy or breastfeeding. This study may contribute to a better understanding of the safety for the descendants of AC during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None