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Manual of Cardio-oncology pp 107–122Cite as

The Pharmacologist’s Point of View: Mechanisms of Cardiotoxicity

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Abstract

Cancer chemotherapy has made remarkable advances in the treatment of both solid and hematologic malignancies, and significant progress has been achieved in the reduction of recurrences. However, many anticancer agents, while successuful in their anti-tumor activities, are often associated with side effects affecting the cardiovascular compartment, leading to an increase in morbidity and mortality. Here we will discuss the cellular and molecular alterations occurring in the chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, focusing on the main anti-cancer agent categories employed in cancer treatment and we report suggestions on screening approaches. We revise concept of cardio-oncology and cardio-oncological prevention, an interdisciplinary field that joins oncologists and cardiologists, with the necessary aim to limit or prevent chemotherapyinduced cardiotoxicity.

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Acknowledgments

Antonino Bruno is currently supported by a fellowship from the Fondazione Umberto Veronesi. Barbara Bassani is a participant of the PhD program in Biotechnology, Biosciences and Surgical Technologies, School in Biological and Medical Sciences, University of Insubria. We thank Alessandra Panvini Rosati for the secretariat assistance.

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Laboratory of Vascular Biology and Angiogenesis, Scientific and Tecnology Park, IRCCS MultiMedica, Milan, Italy

      Barbara Bassani, Antonino Bruno, Nicoletta Macrì, Paola Corradino, Douglas M. Noonan & Adriana Albini

    2. Department of Biotechnologies and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

      Douglas M. Noonan

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    1. Barbara Bassani
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    2. Antonino Bruno
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    3. Nicoletta Macrì
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    4. Paola Corradino
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    5. Douglas M. Noonan
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    6. Adriana Albini
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    Correspondence to Adriana Albini .

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    Editors and Affiliations

    1. Cardiology Unit, IRCCS CRO-National Cancer Institute, Aviano (PN), Italy

      Chiara Lestuzzi

    2. Cardiology Unit, National Cancer Institute “Giovanni Paolo II”, Bari, Italy

      Stefano Oliva

    3. Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale San Vincenzo, Taormina, Italy

      Francesco Ferraù

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    Bassani, B., Bruno, A., Macrì, N., Corradino, P., Noonan, D.M., Albini, A. (2017). The Pharmacologist’s Point of View: Mechanisms of Cardiotoxicity. In: Lestuzzi, C., Oliva, S., Ferraù, F. (eds) Manual of Cardio-oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40236-9_7

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40236-9_7

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