Published in:
01-10-2017 | Pathophysiology of Myocardia Failure (I Anand and M Patarroyo-Aponte, Section Editors)
Prevention of Chemotherapy Induced Cardiomyopathy
Published in: Current Heart Failure Reports | Issue 5/2017
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Purpose of Review
Cardiomyopathy is a significant complication of various cancer treatments and has been best studied in patients receiving anthracyclines and trastuzumab. This paper evaluates strategies to prevent chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
Recent Findings
Increasing cumulative anthracycline dose, use of ≥2 cardiotoxic therapies, extremes of age, and pre-existing cardiovascular risk factors, or established cardiovascular disease, heighten the risk of developing chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy. Continuous rather than bolus anthracycline infusions, liposomal doxorubicin, or concomitant dexrazoxane reduces chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Treatment with neurohormonal antagonists or statins and exercise training during chemotherapy are promising, but as yet unproven, cardioprotective strategies.
Summary
Identification of high-risk patients and optimization of their underlying cardiovascular risk factors/disease are essential to prevent cardiotoxicity. In patients requiring high-dose anthracyclines, continuous infusions, liposomal doxorubicin, or dexrazoxane should be considered to mitigate cardiotoxicity. Current data do not support the routine use of neurohormonal antagonists or statins as cardioprotective agents in patients treated with cardiotoxic chemotherapies.