Cardiovascular Toxicity from Chemotherapy and Anticancer Treatment

Cardiovascular toxicity is a potential short- or long-term complication of chemotherapy and other anticancer therapies. Cytotoxics, such as anthracyclines, or other biological agents have been implicated in causing clinically significant cardiac dysfunction. Many targeted agents have been introduced in clinical practice and rare, but serious, complications have been described. Further follow-up is needed to determine the exact profile and outcomes of related cardiac side effects. Some of them are irreversible, leading to progressive cardiovascular disease; some others induce reversible dysfunction with no long-term cardiac damage for the patient. Assessment of the prevalence, type, and severity of cardiac toxicity caused by various cancer treatments is a breakthrough topic for patient management. More research is needed to assess and manage the cardiovascular safety of patients treated with anticancer agents, beginning with a dynamic partnership between oncologists and cardiologists and the development of a new generation of "cardio-oncologic" investigators. A thoughtful risk-management plan generated by an organized collaboration between oncologists, cardiologists, and regulatory agencies can support developmental programs essential for anticancer agents with cardiac safety concerns.