ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Cancer therapies are currently more efficient at increasing the survival of patients (pts) with cancer. Unfortunately, the cardiovascular (CV) complications of cancer therapies may adversely affect improving results of treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of classical CV risk factors among pts with de novo diagnosis of cancer and thus identify the cohort of pts with potentially increased future risk of CV complications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The analysis is based on the database of the multicentre ONCOECHO study. Pts before systemic treatment (chemotherapy or targeted therapy) were included. The diagnostic datasets of resting electrocardiogram, blood samples, and transthoracic echocardiogram were analysed in 343 consecutive pts who were free from any cardiovascular disease that could adversely affect the introduced treatment. RESULTS: Our cohort included 4.4% of pts with kidney cancer, 7.3% with colorectal cancer, 26.5% with haematological malignancies (HM), and 61.8% with breast cancer. The risk estimated by SCORE was 4.56 ±5.07%. Breast cancer pts had lower cardiovascular risk than those with HM (p = 0.001) and kidney cancer (p = 0.002). Additionally, the HM group had much higher levels of natriuretic peptides (p < 0.001) and creatinine (p = 0.008) than pts with breast cancer. The comparison with the NATPOL population data showed that our pts were more often smokers, hypertensives, and diabetics, but less frequently presented with hypercholesterolaemia. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with new diagnosis of cancer, who are candidates for potentially cardiotoxic medical treatment, have increased prevalence of significant cardiovascular risk factors and therefore should be followed by a multidisciplinary team during the therapeutic process.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cancer in women and the third in men in Poland. The role of chemotherapy (CTX) depends on the stage of CRC: adjuvant CTX is a standard treatment in stage III and should also be considered in stage II with risk factors. AIM: The aim of the paper was to assess the cardiovascular consequences of CTX in CRC enrolled to the ONCOECHO multicentre study (2012-2014). To identify potential cardiotoxicity, we focused on myocardial function, heart rhythm and conduction disorders, and adverse cardiovascular events. METHODS: Twenty-five CRC patients (12 women, mean age 61.3 [35-76] years), all receiving six-month adjuvant CTX were included. Thirteen patients received 5-fluorouracil (5FU)-based CTX, and 12 patients received a capecitabine-based scheme. Subjects were assessed at baseline and followed-up three, six, and 12 months after the onset of treatment. In this analysis we focused on conduction abnormalities, systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle (LV), and cardiovascular events. RESULTS: In 12-month follow-up a decrease of selected tissue Doppler parameters (e.g. S'IVS, S'lat, and E'sept) was observed, and it was significant. LV structural parameters and ejection fraction (EF) remained unaffected. Changes in myocardial performance were not influenced by CTX regimen or treatment with beta-blockers or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. CTX did not affect LV structural parameters, EF, or conduction system, nor was it associated with cardiovascular events during the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: CTX in CRC patients does not affect LV structural parameters and EF. It may, however, trigger subtle changes in myocardial performance detectable by tissue Doppler echocardiography after 12 months. Moreover, it causes a transient increase of QT, which resolves after CTX cessation.
