Impacts of non-recovery of trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy on clinical outcomes in patients with breast cancer

The impacts of non-recovery of trastuzumab-induced left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) on clinical outcomes in breast cancer have been poorly studied. We investigated the predictors of LV-functional non-recovery and its impacts on clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients with trastuzumab-induced LVD.

A total of 243 patients with trastuzumab-induced LVD were divided into the recovered LVD group (n = 195) and non-recovered LVD group (n = 48). Major adverse clinical events (MACEs) including death, symptomatic heart failure (HF), and HF hospitalization (HHF) were compared. Hemoglobin and albumin levels were significantly lower in non-recovered LVD than in recovered LVD group. Non-recovered LVD group showed significantly larger LV end-diastolic and systolic dimension, higher pulmonary artery systolic pressure, lower LV ejection fraction (EF), and decreased global longitudinal strain than in recovered LVD group. Decreased LVEF, enlarged LV size, pulmonary hypertension, and anemia were independent predictors of LV-functional non-recovery. During 45.9 ± 23.5 months of follow-up, MACEs were developed in 32 patients: 15 deaths, 28 symptomatic HF, and 22 HHF. In Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, MACE free survival was significantly lower in non-recovered LVD group than in recovered LVD group (log rank p = 0.002).

LV-functional non-recovery was not uncommon in breast cancer patients with trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy, and non-recovered LVD was significantly associated with MACEs. Decreased LVEF, enlarged LV size, pulmonary hypertension, and anemia were independent predictors of LV-functional non-recovery. Careful monitoring for MACEs and intensive medical management should be considered in trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy with these characteristics.