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Cardiovascular Complications of Chemotherapy: Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity

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Abstract

The anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents (doxorubicin, idarubicin, epirubicin) continue to play an important role in the treatment of certain malignancies. Their efficacy in treating cancer is related to the cumulative dose. Unfortunately, the risk of developing cardiotoxicity from these agents is also related to the cumulative dose. In this review, the incidence of anthracycline-mediated cardiotoxicity, the cellular mechanisms responsible for the cardiotoxicity, methods to detect cardiotoxicity, and strategies to treat and, more importantly, prevent the cardiotoxicity are discussed. Through close communication between the consulting cardiologist and the oncologist, a treatment plan can be developed that maximizes the tumoricidal activity of anthracyclines while minimizing the risk of cardiotoxicity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, DCB 323, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA

    Raymond R. Russell III MD, PhD

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  1. Raymond R. Russell III MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Raymond R. Russell III MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine,, Stony Brook University, School of Medicine,, Stony Brook, USA

    Kathleen Stergiopoulos

  2. Division of Cardiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA

    David L. Brown

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© 2014 Springer-Verlag London

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Russell, R.R. (2014). Cardiovascular Complications of Chemotherapy: Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity. In: Stergiopoulos, K., Brown, D. (eds) Evidence-Based Cardiology Consult. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4441-0_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-4441-0_26

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