title: Predicting and preventing cardiotoxicity in the era of breast cancer targeted therapies. Novel molecular tools for clinical issues.
abstract: Treatment of breast cancer (BC) has changed over the last decade with the advent of targeted therapies. Whereas traditional chemotherapy was directed toward all rapidly dividing cells (cancerous or not), several new anti-cancer drugs are mainly tailored to specific genetic pathways of cancer cells. Ideally, the goal of these new therapies is to improve the management of cancer with a specific targeting of the malignant cell and fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. Due to the initial success of this approach, an increasing number of targeted drugs entered into clinical development. However, unanticipated side effects of the new drugs, such as cardiotoxicity and heart failure, emerged from several clinical trials. The mechanisms of cardiotoxicity due to traditional chemotherapy and the one due to new drugs seem to be inherently different. In the case of BC, available targeted therapies are probably associated with the abrogation of normal molecular pathways involved in cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells survival/proliferation. The cardiac safety profile of these new drugs asks for a careful patient monitoring and follow up. Herein we will review the cardiotoxicity of BC patients receiving antiERBB2 treatment (Trastuzumab, Lapatinib), VEGF inhibitors (Bevacizumab) and tirosin-kinase inhibitors (Sorafenib, Sunitinib). We will discuss the molecular mechanisms that underlie the risk of cardiotoxicity, and we will examine the molecular tools useful for prediction of heart failure and for identification of subgroups of BC patients more susceptible to cardiac side effects induced by targeted therapies. Attention will be paid in particular to ERBB2 gene and its polymorphisms, as well as to the possible genetic risk stratification of BC patients. Finally, we will discuss the possible clinical strategies to prevent and minimizing the cardiotoxicity of targeted therapies in BC patients, focusing in particular on new drugs combination and on the emerging role of a tight partnership between cardiologists and oncologists.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Unit, IRCCS Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, via Maugeri 4, Pavia, Italy. alberto.zambelli@fsm.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zambelli
authors.forename: Matteo Giovanni
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Della Porta
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleuteri
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Giuli
authors.forename: Oronzo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tondini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054715:Cardiotoxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077341:Lapatinib; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000009:adverse effects; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000077210:Sunitinib; D000068878:Trastuzumab
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D015415:Biomarkers; D054715:Cardiotoxins; D007211:Indoles; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D011758:Pyrroles; D011799:Quinazolines; D000077341:Lapatinib; D009536:Niacinamide; D000068258:Bevacizumab; D000077157:Sorafenib; D000068878:Trastuzumab; D000077210:Sunitinib