The Emerging Field of Cardio-Oncology: Understanding the Intersection of Heart Health and Cancer Treatment

doi:DOI:10.35841/aacc-9.1.358

Mini Review - Current Trends in Cardiology (2025) Volume 9, Issue 1

The Emerging Field of Cardio-Oncology: Understanding the Intersection of Heart Health and Cancer Treatment

Sharmin Zainul^*

Department of Cardiology, Combined Military Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh

*Corresponding Author:: Sharmin Zainul
Department of Cardiology
Combined Military Hospital
Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail: sharmin@cmh.bd

Received: 01-Jan-2025, Manuscript No. AACC-25-161483; Editor assigned: 02-Jan-2025, Pre QC No. AACC-25-161483(PQ); Reviewed:15-Jan-2025, QC No. AACC-25-161483; Revised: 20-Jan-2025, Manuscript No. AACC-25-161483(R), Published: 27-Jan-2025,DOI:10.35841/aacc-9.1.358

Citation: Zainul S. The emerging field of cardio-oncology: Understanding the intersection of heart health and cancer treatment. Curr Trend Cardiol. 2025;9(1):358

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Introduction

Cardio-oncology is a rapidly growing subspecialty that addresses the complex relationship between cancer treatment and cardiovascular health. As advancements in oncology have led to improved survival rates, there has been an increasing recognition of the cardiovascular risks associated with cancer therapies. Chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapies have been linked to cardiotoxic effects, including heart failure, arrhythmias, hypertension, and vascular diseases. This emerging field aims to prevent, diagnose, and manage cardiovascular complications in cancer patients, ensuring that oncologic treatments do not come at the expense of heart health. With a multidisciplinary approach involving oncologists, cardiologists, and primary care physicians, cardio-oncology is transforming the way we approach cancer treatment and long-term patient care. [1,2].

Understanding the Link Between Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease. Cancer and cardiovascular disease are two leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and they share several risk factors, including smoking, obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. In addition, the physiological stress of cancer and its treatment can exacerbate pre-existing heart conditions or induce new cardiovascular issues. Many chemotherapy agents, such as anthracyclines and tyrosine kinase inhibitors, have been implicated in causing direct cardiac toxicity. Similarly, radiation therapy, particularly when targeting the chest region, can lead to long-term damage to the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure. Targeted therapies and immunotherapies have further complicated the cardiovascular landscape in cancer care. While these treatments have revolutionized oncology, they can also provoke immune-related myocarditis, hypertension, and thrombosis. Given the increased survival of cancer patients, the importance of monitoring and mitigating cardiovascular complications has never been more crucial.. [3,4].

Cardiotoxicity refers to the harmful effects of cancer therapies on the cardiovascular system, which can manifest in different ways. The most well-known form is chemotherapy-induced heart failure, particularly due to anthracyclines like doxorubicin, which cause irreversible damage to the heart muscle. Targeted therapies, such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), have been associated with reversible cardiomyopathy, whereas immune checkpoint inhibitors may trigger myocarditis, a potentially life-threatening inflammatory condition of the heart.Radiation therapy, although effective in treating various malignancies, can result in late-onset cardiovascular complications, including pericarditis, valvular heart disease, and accelerated atherosclerosis. The severity of these effects depends on the dose and location of radiation exposure, necessitating careful treatment planning to minimize cardiac risks. [5,6].

The Role of Cardio-Oncology in Patient Care Cardio-oncology is dedicated to the prevention, early detection, and management of cardiovascular complications in cancer patients. Pre-Treatment Risk Assessment Identifying high-risk patients before starting cancer treatment is essential. Baseline cardiovascular evaluations, including echocardiography, cardiac biomarkers, and electrocardiograms (ECGs), help in assessing a patient’s cardiac health and risk of developing complications.Monitoring During Treatment: Regular cardiovascular monitoring is crucial for early detection of cardiotoxicity. This includes periodic imaging, blood tests for cardiac biomarkers like troponins and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and clinical evaluations to identify early signs of heart dysfunction. [7,8].

Cardioprotective Strategies Certain medications, such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, ad statins, have been shown to mitigate the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapy. Additionally, lifestyle modifications, including exercise, a heart-healthy diet, and smoking cessation, play a significant role in reducing cardiovascular risk. Post-Treatment Surveillance and Long-Term Care Even after cancer treatment ends, survivors remain at an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease. Long-term follow-up and continued cardiac assessments are necessary to prevent late-onset complications and ptimize overall health. [9,10].

Conclusion

Cardio-oncology represents a crucial intersection of cardiology and oncology, addressing the cardiovascular risks associated with cancer treatments. With cancer survival rates continuing to improve, the importance of safeguarding long-term heart health has never been more significant. By implementing pre-treatment risk assessments, ongoing monitoring, and cardioprotective strategies, healthcare professionals can minimize the cardiovascular burden of cancer therapies.