Published in:
01-06-2016 | Cardio-oncology (EH Yang, Section Editor)
Fluoropyrimidine-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Manifestations, Mechanisms, and Management
Authors:
Michael E. Layoun, Chanaka D. Wickramasinghe, Maria V. Peralta, Eric H. Yang
Published in:
Current Oncology Reports
|
Issue 6/2016
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Abstract
Fluoropyrimidines—5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine—have been implicated as cardiotoxic chemotherapy agents. This rare, albeit potentially serious toxicity has been described in nearly four decades of case reports, case series, and in vitro modeling; however, there is a paucity in clinical trials and prospective analyses focused on cardioprotective strategies and cardiotoxic surveillance of these agents. While much attention has focused on the well-known cardiac toxicity of anthracyclines and monoclonal antibody agents such as trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidines remain one of the most common causes of chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity. The introduction of capecitabine, an oral prodrug of 5-FU, has made the treatment of solid tumors more convenient along with a subsequent rise in documented cardiotoxic cases. This review discusses the symptomatology, clinical manifestations, and proposed molecular mechanisms that attempt to describe the heterogeneous spectrum of fluoropyrimidine-induced cardiotoxicity. Four case examples showcasing the varied manifestations of cardiotoxicity are presented. Finally, several proposed management strategies for cardiotoxicity and post-hospital course precautions are discussed.