Onkológia 1/2013

Cardiotoxicity of targeted cancer therapy

A growing number of targeted agents can cause cardiotoxic damage of the heart and the vasculature, such as cardiac dysfunction, heart failure, arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia/infarction, thromboembolism, and arrhythmias. In this article we review the pathogenesis, incidence of cardiovascular complications caused by selected commonly used targeted therapy, as well as their current management. Cardiotoxicity induced by targeted therapy remains a significant challenge for oncologists, cardiologists and other specialists due to an increasing population of patients treated with this treatment. Better recognizing and management of cardiotoxicity of targeted therapy may lead to its improved benefit.

Keywords: targeted therapy, cardiotoxicity, heart failure, hypertension, monoclonal antibodies, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors.