Cardio-Oncology Program Building: A Practical Guide.

The organization of a cardio-oncology clinic and overall program is designed to provide comprehensive cardiovascular care to patients who are at risk of or have developed cardiovascular sequelae during or following cancer treatments. In this article, we summarize the core components of a contemporary cardio-oncology program, including its core members (cardiologists, oncologists, clinical pharmacists, advanced practice providers, nurses, and coordinators), key services (risk assessment, treatment planning, cardiac imaging, intervention, and management), and practical integration within the health care system.

Cardio-Oncology and Heart Failure: a Scientific Statement From the Heart Failure Society of America.

Heart failure and cancer remain 2 of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, and the 2 disease entities are linked in a complex manner. Patients with cancer are at increased risk of cardiovascular complications related to the cancer therapies. The presence of cardiomyopathy or heart failure in a patient with new cancer diagnosis portends a high risk for adverse oncology and cardiovascular outcomes.

Biomarkers and Strain Echocardiography for the Detection of Subclinical Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Anthracyclines.

The optimal surveillance and management strategies for breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline therapy are limited by our incomplete understanding of the role of biomarkers heralding the onset of cardiotoxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a temporal correlation between cardiac biomarkers and subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy. Thirty-one females between 46 and 55 years old with breast cancer treated with anthracycline chemotherapy were prospectively enrolled.

TAVR in a 65-Year-Old Man With a Bicuspid Aortic Valve With Extremely Large Annulus and Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

This case illustrates that transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement is safe and feasible in patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis with extremely large annulus and concomitant severe left ventricular dysfunction.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Heart failure is a global public health problem that affects more than 26 million people worldwide. The global burden of heart failure is growing and is expected to increase substantially with the ageing of the population. Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction accounts for approximately 50% of all cases of heart failure in the United States and is associated with substantial morbidity and reduced quality of life.

Cancer and Heart Failure: Understanding the Intersection.

Cancer and cardiovascular disease account for nearly half of all deaths in the US. The majority of cancer therapies are known to cause potential cardiac toxicity in some form. Patients with underlying cardiac disease are at a particularly increased risk for worse outcomes following cancer therapy.

Serelaxin for the treatment of heart failure.

Outcomes for patients with acute heart failure remain suboptimal and treatments principally target improvement of symptoms. To date there has been no therapy approved for acute heart failure shown to improve mortality or readmission risk post-discharge. Serelaxin, a recombinant form of the naturally occurring polypeptide hormone relaxin, has demonstrated promise in preclinical and early clinical trials as a potentially novel therapy for acute heart failure.

Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction and Heart Failure: Part 2: Prevention, Treatment, Guidelines, and Future Directions.

Success with oncologic treatment has allowed cancer patients to experience longer cancer-free survival gains. Unfortunately, this success has been tempered by unintended and often devastating cardiac complications affecting overall patient outcomes. Cardiac toxicity, specifically the association of several cancer therapy agents with the development of left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyopathy, is an issue of growing concern.

Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction and Heart Failure: Part 1: Definitions, Pathophysiology, Risk Factors, and Imaging.

Advances in cancer therapy have resulted in significant improvement in long-term survival for many types of cancer but have also resulted in untoward side effects associated with treatment. One such complication that has become increasingly recognized is the development of cardiomyopathy and heart failure. Whether a previously healthy person from a cardiovascular perspective develops cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction or a high-risk cardiovascular patient requires cancer therapy, the team of oncologists and cardiologists must be better equipped with an evidence-based approach to care for these patients across the spectrum.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: An Overview of Cardiac Toxicity Related to Cancer Therapy.

With the improvement in cancer survival, long-term cardiotoxicity has become an area of increased interest. Various cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy can lead to cardiac toxicities with both acute and chronic manifestations. Awareness and early recognition can lead to improvement in cardiac survival and patient outcomes.