Title:Cardiac Side Effects of Chemotherapy: State of Art and Strategies for a Correct Management
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Author(s): Cinzia Perrino, Gabriele G. Schiattarella, Fabio Magliulo, Federica Ilardi, Giuseppe Carotenuto, Giuseppe Gargiulo, Federica Serino, Marco Ferrone, Fernando Scudiero, Andreina Carbone, Bruno Trimarco and Giovanni Esposito
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Anthracyclines, anti-neoplastic drugs, cancer, cardiotoxicity, chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide, heart failure,
fluoropirimidines, oxidative stress, Trastuzumab, taxanes.
Abstract: In recent years, the development of more effective drugs has provided a better prognosis and an increase in life
expectancy for patients at all-stages of cancer. On the other hand, the price for the improving effectiveness of therapies
against malignant tumors is the development of severe and potentially life-threatening drug reactions. Among these, cardiac
toxic effects have recently gained particular attention. The term cardiotoxicity includes many possible pathological
manifestations, but the most frequent is the reduction in cardiac function, potentially leading to heart failure and death.
Importantly, the development of cardiac dysfunction may occur immediately after drug administration, or after years. The
purpose of this review is to discuss the clinical features of cardiotoxicity, its molecular basis and novel possible strategies
to reduce the likelihood of serious cardiac complications.
