Cardiovascular toxicity in brest cancer patient: diagnosis, treatment, prevention

Abstract

Over the past decades, the survival of breast cancer patients has significantly improved with advances in drug treatment and radiation therapy. Classical chemotherapy based primarily on anthracyclines, as well as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have increased survival in breast cancer patients. However, both conventional chemotherapeutic agents and some new molecules can cause cardiovascular side effects that potentially worsen prognosis. The mechanisms of cardiovascular complications vary greatly depending on the drug type, and may manifest by temporary cardiomyocyte dysfunction or induce irreversible myocardial damage. Breast cancer patients are at high risk of cardiotoxicity because they receive combined cancer treatment and therefore require careful monitoring of heart function, especially with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases or multiple risk factors. Practically, it is possible due to close cooperation between cardiologists and oncologists, resulting in risk stratification of cardiovascular complications before antitumor treatment, individualized therapy, monitoring for early detection of complications, as well as timely use of cardioprotective therapy, both for prevention and treatment of complications that will improve survival and quality of life in breast cancer patients.