Recommended Reading

April 2025 :

• Increased cancer incidence in patients with pre-existing heart failure: results from a French nationwide cohort study

The current knowledge on reverse cardio-oncology is limited. It remains unclear whether patients with pre-existing heart failure are at increased risk of developing cancer considering that they share common risk factors. In a recent large French nationwide cohort study by Mirabel and colleagues (doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf152) including over 330 000 patients with established heart failure, patients with pre-existing heart failure demonstrated a 16% higher attributable risk of new-onset cancer, particularly lung, colon and blood cancers, regardless of known risk factors. These findings emphasize and support the need for cancer screening strategies among patients with pre-existing heart failure.

• Coronary inflammation and cardiovascular risk in breast cancer after radiotherapy
• Fluoropyrimidine Chemotherapy and the Risk of Death and Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Gastrointestinal Cancer 
• Hemoglobin A1c stratifies risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in prostate cancer survivors in the UK Biobank: a cohort study
• History of Cancer and Atrial Cardiopathy: A Secondary Analysis of the ARCADIA Clinical Trial
• Identification of Anticancer Drugs Associated With Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Pediatrics—Analysis of the WHO Pharmacovigilance Database

March 2025 :

• Impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors on heart failure outcomes in cancer patients and survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

By means of a systematic review and meta(analysis of the literature, Bhalraam and colleagues assessed the cardioprotective effect of SGLT2i on heart failure in patients treated for cancer. The results that included 13 studies and >80,000 participants suggest that SGLT2i reduces heart failure incidence and need for hospital. The group of patients who may benefit the most from SGLT2i are breast cancer patients treated with anthracylines. Overall, SGLT2i are promising cardioprotective drugs to prevent either cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction or overt heart failure. Randomized controlled studies are however needed at this stage.

• Outcomes of patients with cancer admitted with heart failure–associated cardiogenic shock .  
• Rivaroxaban for 18 Months Versus 6 Months in Patients With Cancer and Acute Low-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial (ONCO PE Trial).
• An update on the European Society of Cardiology Council of Cardio-Oncology. 
• Diagnosis of cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicities: A multimodality integrative approach and future developments. 
• Cardiac Effects of Modern Breast Radiation Therapy in Patients Receiving Systemic Cancer Therapy.

February 2025 :

• Anthracycline-induced cardiovascular toxicity: validation of the Heart Failure Association and International Cardio-Oncology Society risk score

This study validates the Heart Failure Association (HFA) and International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) risk score for predicting anthracycline-induced cardiovascular toxicity. Analyzing real-world data, the authors assess its accuracy in identifying high-risk patients, enhancing prevention strategies. Findings support its clinical utility in guiding cardio-oncology management. The study highlights the importance of risk stratification in optimizing anthracycline therapy while minimizing cardiovascular complications.

• Mobile/wearable digital devices for care of active cancer patients: a survey from the ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology 

This survey by the ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology explores the role of mobile and wearable digital devices in managing active cancer patients. It assesses their adoption, benefits, and barriers in monitoring cardiovascular health. Results highlight the potential of digital tools to improve early detection, patient engagement, and personalized care. However, challenges such as data integration and regulatory issues remain, requiring further standardization for widespread implementation.

January 2025 :

• Strain surveillance during chemotherapy to improve cardiovascular outcomes: the SUCCOUR-MRI trial

The SUCCOUR-MRI trial assessed whether cardioprotective therapy guided by early detection of reduced global longitudinal strain (GLS) during anthracycline chemotherapy could better preserve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In 333 patients, those with isolated GLS impairment received either cardioprotective therapy or usual care. Results showed that cardioprotective therapy significantly reduced declines in LVEF. Its potential to improve cardiovascular clinical outcomes needs further research.

• Breast cancer and cardiovascular health

December 2024 : 

• Rescue of cardiac dysfunction during chemotherapy in acute myeloid leukaemia by blocking IL-1α

Authors explore pathways of myocyte toxicity due to antharcyclines by means of a translational study  including a murine animal model and replicated on cardiomyocytes from a single leukemia patient. Their results increase our knowledge on the pathways of anthracyclin cardiotoxicity. Authors test the effect of  IL-1α neutralizing antibodies with a positive effect on the murine model. Although their results need further research in humans, it opens new perspectives for cardioprotection beyond the classic heart failure therapies.

• Coexisting atrial fibrillation and cancer: time trends and associations with mortality in a nationwide Dutch study
• Mortality After Major Cardiovascular Events in Survivors of Childhood Cancer 

November 2024 :

• Bleeding risk prediction after acute myocardial infarction-integrating cancer data: the updated PRECISE-DAPT cancer score
• Rivaroxaban for 18 Months Versus 6 Months in Patients With Cancer and Acute Low-Risk Pulmonary Embolism: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized Clinical Trial (ONCO PE Trial)