Coronary Plaque Erosion after Abemaciclib Treatment Onset: An Unknown Side Effect?

Thromb Haemost. 2021 Jul;121(7):976-978. doi: 10.1055/a-1326-7028. Epub 2021 Feb 6.

Abstract

The current article describes a 72-year-old woman who suffered an acute myocardial infarction due to plaque erosion (PE) 2 weeks after abemaciclib treatment onset due to advanced breast cancer. Abemaciclib is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor that has recently demonstrated efficacy and safety in advanced breast cancer. Of major concern, however, reported thromboembolic rates in randomized clinical trials testing this drug range from 0.6 to 5%. To the best of our knowledge this is the first thrombotic coronary side effect ever reported. We suggest that a treatment that increases thromboembolic risk, such abemaciclib, may have triggered PE in our patient, 15 days after abemaciclib initiation. New molecules are promising in cancer treatment; however, care must be paid to their potential cardiotoxic effects.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aminopyridines / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Artifacts
  • Benzimidazoles / adverse effects*
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Coronary Vessels / pathology
  • Enoxaparin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipids / chemistry
  • Myocardial Infarction / chemically induced*
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Thromboembolism / chemically induced*
  • Ticagrelor / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Aminopyridines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Enoxaparin
  • Lipids
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • abemaciclib
  • Ticagrelor