Abstract
Purpose of Review: Treatment with trastuzumab is a cornerstone of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-overexpressing breast cancer treatment, but carries an unfortunate risk of toxicity to the cardiovascular system. Here, we review recent findings on trastuzumab-associated cardiotoxicity, focusing on its incidence, diagnosis, and treatment. Recent Findings: Screening with multigated acquisition scan (MUGA) or echocardiogram (ECHO) is recommended to assess cardiac function prior to and during trastuzumab therapy. Because trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity is typically reversible, cessation of trastuzumab and/or administration of first-line heart failure agents effectively restores cardiac function in most cases. Severe trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity is rare enough that the risk-benefit ratio still weighs in favor of its use in the vast majority of patients with HER2+ breast cancer. Summary: An improved understanding of the pathophysiology underlying trastuzumab-induced cardiotoxicity and the identification of patients at highest risk will allow us to continue to safely administer trastuzumab in patients with breast cancer.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 173-182 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Current Breast Cancer Reports |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Sep 1 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Keywords
- Breast cancer
- Cardio-oncology
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiotoxicity
- HER2
- Trastuzumab