Published in:
Open Access
01-07-2020 | Heart Failure | Cardio-oncology (EH Yang, Section Editor)
Cardiac Biomarkers in Patients with Cancer: Considerations, Clinical Implications, and Future Avenues
Authors:
Valentina Bracun, Joseph Pierre Aboumsallem, Peter van der Meer, Rudolf A. de Boer
Published in:
Current Oncology Reports
|
Issue 7/2020
Login to get access
Abstract
Purpose of the Review
As the number of cancer survivors increases due to early screening and modern (antineoplastic) treatments, cancer treatment associated cardiotoxicity (CTAC) is becoming an increasing health burden that affects survival and quality of life among cancer survivors. Thus, clinicians need to identify adverse events early, in an effort to take suitable measures before the occurrence of permanent or irreversible cardiac dysfunction.
Recent Findings
Cardiac troponin (cTn) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) have been proven to detect subclinical cardiotoxicity during antineoplastic treatment. As such, these cardio-specific biomarkers could predict which patients are at risk of developing CTAC even before the start of therapy. Nevertheless, there are inconsistent data from published studies, and the recommendations regarding the use of these biomarkers and their validity are mostly based on expert consensus opinion.
Summary
In this review, we summarize available literature that evaluates biomarkers of CTAC, and we encourage strategies that integrate circulating biomarkers and cardiac imaging in identifying cancer patients that are at high risk.