Cancer and cardiovascular disease: the use of novel echocardiography measures to predict subsequent cardiotoxicity in breast cancer treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab

Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2014 Dec;11(4):366-73. doi: 10.1007/s11897-014-0214-8.

Abstract

As the population of breast cancer survivors grows, it has become evident that chemotherapy has significant cardiotoxic side effects. Echocardiography is a noninvasive, cost-effective, and widely available imaging tool that is well positioned to serve as a primary modality for monitoring chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. Although left ventricular ejection fraction is a standard measurement by which to monitor chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, its predictive value in identifying subsequent cardiotoxicity is limited. More sophisticated echocardiography modalities may offer improved sensitivity and specificity for detecting chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. These include tissue Doppler imaging measures, newer techniques based upon two- and three-dimensional strain and torsion analysis, and three-dimensional measures of cardiac size. While these modalities are not all currently part of clinical practice, a body of data supporting their use is steadily building. More research remains to be performed, and noninvasively detecting cancer therapy-induced cardiac dysfunction at the earliest stages is of increasing interest.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthracyclines / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Cardiotoxicity / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cardiotoxicity / etiology*
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Trastuzumab