ABSTRACT

Background. The most important anthracycline side effect is cardiotoxicity, resulting in congestive heart failure (HF). Early detection of cardiac dysfunction and appropriate treatment can improve outcomes and reduce the progression of HF. The aim of our study was to evaluate changes in clinical data, echocardiographic parameters, and NT-proBNP, as well as their associations with early anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) in patients treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Methods and Materials. Patients with breast cancer were prospectively assessed with echocardiography, as well as NT-proBNP testing at baseline, (T0), after two cycles (T1) and four cycles (T2) of chemotherapy. AIC was defined as a new decrease in the LVEF of 10 percentage points, to a value below the lower limit of normal. Results.We evaluated 85 patients aged 54.5 ± 9.3 years. After a cumulative dose of 237.9 mg/m2 of doxorubicin, 22 patients (25.9%) met the criteria of AIC after chemotherapy. Patients who subsequently progressed to cardiotoxicity had demonstrated a significantly larger impairment in LV systolic function compared to those who did not develop cardiotoxicity (LVEF: 54.0 ± 1.6% vs. 57.1 ± 1.4% at T1, p< 0.001, and 49.9 ± 2.1% vs. 55.8 ± 1.6% at T2, p< 0.001; GLS: -17.8 ± 0.4% vs. -19.3 ± 0.9% at T1, p< 0.001, and -16.5 ± 11.1% vs. -18.5 ± 0.9% at T2, p< 0.001, respectively). The levels of NT-proBNP increased significantly from 94.8 ± 43.8 ng/L to 154.1 ± 75.6 ng/L, p< 0.001. A relative decrease in GLS ≤ -18.0% (sensitivity: 72.73%; specificity: 92.06%; AUC, 0.94; p< 0.001) and a relative increase in NT-proBNP > 125 ng/L (sensitivity: 90.0%; specificity: 56.9%; AUC, 0.78; p< 0.001) from baseline to T1 predicted subsequent LV cardiotoxicity at T2. Conclusions. Decrease in GLS and elevation in NT-proBNP were significantly associated with AIC, and these could potentially be used to predict subsequent declines in LVEF with anthracycline-based chemotherapy.

PMID:37241185 | DOI:10.3390/medicina59050953

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PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Echocardiographic Findings in Asymptomatic Mediastinal Lymphoma Survivors Years after Treatment Termination

J Clin Med. 2023 May 12;12(10):3427. doi: 10.3390/jcm12103427.

ABSTRACT

Patients treated due to mediastinal lymphomas are at risk of cardiovascular complications, as they receive chemotherapy, usually containing anthracyclines, often combined with thoracic radiotherapy. The aim of this prospective study was to assess early asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction using resting and dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) at least 3 years after the end of mediastinal lymphoma treatment. Two groups of patients were compared: those treated with chemoradiotherapy and those exclusively treated with chemotherapy. Left ventricular contractile reserve (LVCR) during DSE was assessed using changes in LV ejection fraction (LVEF), LV global longitudinal strain (LV GLS), and a novel parameter-Force, which is the ratio of the systolic blood pressure to the LV end-systolic volume. The study included 60 patients examined at a median of 89 months after the end of treatment. Resting echocardiography showed normal LVEF of 58.9 ± 9.6%, borderline LV GLS of -17.7 ± 3%, decreased mean stroke volume (SV) of 51.4 ± 17 mL, and indexed SV of 27.3 ± 8 mL/m2, and the right ventricular free wall longitudinal strain (LS) was impaired in some patients but not in all. There were no significant differences between the groups, with the exception of arterial hypertension, which was more common in the chemotherapy group (32% vs. 62.5%, p= 0.04). In resting echocardiography, only LV posterior wall LS differed significantly and was impaired in patients treated with chemotherapy (-19.1 ± 3.1% vs. -16.5 ± 5.1%, p= 0.04). DSE, performed in 21 patients after a median of 166 months from the end of cancer treatment, detected new contractility disorders in 1 patient (4.8%) and decreased LVCR in the majority of patients when determined using changes in LVEF or LV GLS, and in all patients when assessed with changes in Force. Conclusions: Most asymptomatic mediastinal lymphoma survivors showed preserved ventricular function on resting echocardiography. However, all of them showed impaired LV contractile reserve on DSE, as assessed with a simple parameter-Force. This may indicate subtle LV dysfunction and confirms the need for long-term monitoring of patients with potentially cardiotoxic cancer treatment.

PMID:37240533 | DOI:10.3390/jcm12103427

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PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Primary Cardiac Schwannoma: A Meta-Analysis of Individual Case Reports

J Clin Med. 2023 May 9;12(10):3356. doi: 10.3390/jcm12103356.

ABSTRACT

Primary cardiac schwannoma (PCS) is a neurogenic tumor that arises from Schwann cells. Malignant schwannoma (MSh) is an aggressive cancer comprising 2% of all sarcomas. Information on the proper management of these tumors is limited. Four databases were searched for case reports/series of PCS. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes included therapeutic strategies and the corresponding outcomes. Among 439 potentially eligible studies, 53 met the inclusion criteria. The patients included had 43.72 ± 17.76 years and 28.3% were males. Over 50% of patients had MSh, with 9.4% also demonstrating metastases. Schwannoma commonly occurs in the atria (66.0%). Left-sided PCS were more common than right-sided ones. Surgery was performed in almost 90% of the cases; chemotherapy and radiotherapy were used in 16.9% and 15.1% of cases, respectively. Compared to benign cases, MSh occurs at a younger age and is commonly located on the left side. OS of the entire cohort at 1 and 3 years were 60.7%, and 54.0%, respectively. Females and males OS were similar up to 2 years follow-up. Surgery was associated with higher OS (p < 0.01). Surgery is the primary treatment option for both benign and malignant cases and was the only factor associated with a relative improvement in survival.

PMID:37240461 | DOI:10.3390/jcm12103356

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Hypercoagulability State Combined with Post-Treatment Hypofibrinolysis in Invasive Breast Cancer: A Seven-Year Follow-Up Evaluating Disease-Free and Overall Survival

Life (Basel). 2023 Apr 28;13(5):1106. doi: 10.3390/life13051106.

ABSTRACT

(1) Background: Cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy and radiotherapy, has been identified as an important independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism in cancer patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of adjuvant therapy on the coagulation and fibrinolysis components in invasive breast cancer. (2) Methods: Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), tissue factor (TF), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) antigen (concentration) and TFPI and TF activities were examined in the blood samples of 60 breast cancer patients treated by adjuvant chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. Blood samples were taken 24 h before primary surgery and 8 months after tumour removal surgery. (3) Results: Adjuvant therapy administrated to breast cancer patients significantly increased the concentration of plasma TF, the PAI-1 antigen and also the activity of TFPI and TF, but significantly decreased the level of the t-PA antigen. Combined chemotherapy and endocrine therapy, but not monotherapy, has an important effect on haemostatic biomarker levels. (4) Conclusions: Breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapy have an elevated risk of developing a hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolysis state leading to venous thromboembolism.

PMID:37240751 | DOI:10.3390/life13051106

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Phase 1 study of GSK3368715, a type I PRMT inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors

Br J Cancer. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1038/s41416-023-02276-0. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: GSK3368715, a first-in-class, reversible inhibitor of type I protein methyltransferases (PRMTs) demonstrated anticancer activity in preclinical studies. This Phase 1 study (NCT03666988) evaluated safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy of GSK3368715 in adults with advanced-stage solid tumors.

METHODS: In part 1, escalating doses of oral once-daily GSK3368715 (50, 100, and 200 mg) were evaluated. Enrollment was paused at 200 mg following a higher-than-expected incidence of thromboembolic events (TEEs) among the first 19 participants, resuming under a protocol amendment starting at 100 mg. Part 2 (to evaluate preliminary efficacy) was not initiated.

RESULTS: Dose-limiting toxicities were reported in 3/12 (25%) patients at 200 mg. Nine of 31 (29%) patients across dose groups experienced 12 TEEs (8 grade 3 events and 1 grade 5 pulmonary embolism). Best response achieved was stable disease, occurring in 9/31 (29%) patients. Following single and repeat dosing, GSK3368715 maximum plasma concentration was reached within 1 h post dosing. Target engagement was observed in the blood, but was modest and variable in tumor biopsies at 100 mg.

CONCLUSION: Based on higher-than-expected incidence of TEEs, limited target engagement at lower doses, and lack of observed clinical efficacy, a risk/benefit analysis led to early study termination.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT03666988.

PMID:37237172 | DOI:10.1038/s41416-023-02276-0

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Preoperative Venous Thromboembolism Screening and Postoperative Selective Anticoagulant Therapy Effectively Prevents Postoperative Symptomatic Venous Thromboembolism in Gynecological Malignancies: A 15-Year, Single-Center Study

Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2023 Jan-Dec;29:10760296231178300. doi: 10.1177/10760296231178300.

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to determine which type of prophylaxis was effective for postoperative symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with gynecological malignancies. A total of 1756 consecutive patients undergoing laparotomy as first-line treatment were included. In Period 1 (2004-2009), low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) was not available for postoperative VTE prophylaxis, but available in after Period 2 (2009-2013). In Period 3 (2013-2020), patients with pretreatment VTE could switch from LMWH to direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) as of 2015. Preoperative VTE was screened by measuring D-dimer, followed by venous ultrasound imaging, and computed tomography and/or perfusion lung scintigraphy. Postoperative symptomatic VTE occurred with an incidence of 2.8% by the measures without prophylactic LMWH administration in Period 1. The incidence of postoperative symptomatic VTE was 0.6% in Period 2 and 0.3% in Period 3, being significantly reduced compared with Period 1 (P < .01 and < .0001). The incidences were not significantly different between Periods 2 and 3, but no patient switching to DOAC in Period 3 (n = 79) developed symptomatic VTE. Our preoperative VTE screening and postoperative selective LMWH administration were significantly preventive against postoperative symptomatic VTE.

PMID:37231620 | DOI:10.1177/10760296231178300

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Cardiac Metastatic Tumors: Current Knowledge

Am J Clin Oncol. 2023 May 26. doi: 10.1097/COC.0000000000001013. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Cardiac tumors are a heterogeneous group of pathologic masses of the heart that contain primary tumors-benign or malignant, and secondary tumors. Metastases are significantly more frequent, mostly originating from lung, breast, gastrointestinal tract, or ovary carcinomas. Secondary cardiac tumors may be asymptomatic or may cause cardiovascular, systemic, or embolic symptoms. The study is a summary of the available knowledge on cancerous metastatic lesions of the heart. Pleural mesothelioma (48.4%), adenocarcinoma (19.5%), or squamous cell carcinoma (18.2%) of lung, breast carcinoma (15.5%), ovarian carcinoma (10.3%), and bronchoalveolar carcinomas (9.8%) are cited as the most common origin of secondary heart tumors. Masses can spread by direct tumor invasion, by lymphatic vessels, veins, or arteries. Patients with cancer and nonspecific cardiovascular symptoms should be particularly vigilant, and the possibility of metastasis in an unusual location such as the myocardium should be considered in the diagnosis. Diagnostic methods include echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance, computed tomography, positron emission tomography, and histologic evaluation. Treatment of choice is managing primary carcinoma, due to the poor outcomes of surgical methods.

PMID:37231541 | DOI:10.1097/COC.0000000000001013

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Venous thromboembolism secondary to hospitalization for COVID-19: patient management and long-term outcomes

Res Pract Thromb Haemost. 2023 May;7(4):100167. doi: 10.1016/j.rpth.2023.100167. Epub 2023 Apr 26.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a complication of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. Little information is available on long-term outcomes of VTE in this population.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to compare the characteristics, management strategies, and long-term clinical outcomes between patients with COVID-19-associated VTE and patients with VTE provoked by hospitalization for other acute medical illnesses.

METHODS: This is an observational cohort study, with a prospective cohort of 278 patients with COVID-19-associated VTE enrolled between 2020 and 2021 and a comparison cohort of 300 patients without COVID-19 enrolled in the ongoing START2-Register between 2018 and 2020. Exclusion criteria included age <18<3

RESULTS: Patients with VTE secondary to COVID-19 had more frequent pulmonary embolism without deep vein thrombosis than controls (83.1% vs 46.2%, P<.001),P<.001),P<.001).P= 0.9) and the proportion of patients who discontinued anticoagulation (78.0% and 75.0%, P= 0.4) were similar between the 2 groups. Thrombotic event rates after discontinuation were 1.5 and 2.6 per 100 patient-years, respectively (P = 0.4).

CONCLUSION: The risk of recurrent thrombotic events in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE is low and similar to the risk observed in patients with VTE secondary to hospitalization for other medical diseases.

PMID:37229314 | PMC:PMC10131739 | DOI:10.1016/j.rpth.2023.100167

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Pulmonary embolism complicated by tamponade revealing metastatic lung cancer in a woman pregnant with twin: about a case report

Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023 Apr 7;85(5):1966-1970. doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000000516. eCollection 2023 May.

ABSTRACT

Lung cancer can be revealed by thromboembolic complications. Its association with pregnancy is becoming more frequent due to the increasing number of smoking women. The care of a pregnant woman with cancer is quite delicate because it requires finding a balance between the treatment of the mother and the potential foetal risk.

CASE PRESENTATION: The authors report the case of a 38-year-old patient, with a twin pregnancy of 16 weeks, complicated by proximal and distal peripheral venous thrombosis of the left lower limb under low molecular weight heparin therapy at a curative dose. A week later, the patient presented to the emergency room with respiratory distress associated with chest pain and low-abundance metrorrhagia. The obstetrical ultrasound performed confirmed the vitality of only one of the two foetuses. The transthoracic ultrasound objectified a very abundant pericardial effusion producing a tamponade, which was drained percutaneously and whose cytological study revealed a liquid rich in tumour cells. After the unfortunate death of the second twin and an endouterine evacuation, a chest computed tomography angiogram demonstrated a bilateral proximal pulmonary embolism associated with bilateral moderate pulmonary effusion as well as multiple thrombosis and secondary aspect liver lesions with a suspicious parenchymal lymph node of the upper lung lobe. A liver biopsy concluded to a secondary hepatic localization of a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma whose immunohistochemical complement revealed a pulmonary origin. A multidisciplinary consultation meeting leaned towards treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The patient died 7 months later.

DISCUSSION: Venous thromboembolic disease is more common in pregnant women. Delayed diagnosis is common in these cases, resulting in a high rate of locally advanced or metastatic disease. Since the treatment of pregnancy-associated cancer does not rely on a standardized approach, the decision on how to proceed must be made by a multidisciplinary team.

CONCLUSION: The cornerstone of management remains to find the balance between treating the mother as well as possible while preventing the foetus from the possible harm of cytotoxic drugs frequently used to treat lung cancer. Because of the delayed diagnosis, the maternal prognosis often remains poor.

PMID:37228933 | PMC:PMC10205297 | DOI:10.1097/MS9.0000000000000516

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Ten-Year Multicenter Retrospective Study Utilizing Machine Learning Algorithms to Identify Patients at High Risk of Venous Thromboembolism After Radical Gastrectomy

Int J Gen Med. 2023 May 18;16:1909-1925. doi: 10.2147/IJGM.S408770. eCollection 2023.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study aims to construct a machine learning model that can recognize preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative high-risk indicators and predict the onset of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1239 patients diagnosed with gastric cancer were enrolled in this retrospective study, among whom 107 patients developed VTE after surgery. We collected 42 characteristic variables of gastric cancer patients from the database of Wuxi People's Hospital and Wuxi Second People's Hospital between 2010 and 2020, including patients' demographic characteristics, chronic medical history, laboratory test characteristics, surgical information, and patients' postoperative conditions. Four machine learning algorithms, namely, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), were employed to develop predictive models. We also utilized Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) for model interpretation and evaluated the models using k-fold cross-validation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, decision curve analysis (DCA), and external validation metrics.

RESULTS: The XGBoost algorithm demonstrated superior performance compared to the other three prediction models. The area under the curve (AUC) value for XGBoost was 0.989 in the training set and 0.912 in the validation set, indicating high prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the AUC value of the external validation set was 0.85, signifying good extrapolation of the XGBoost prediction model. The results of SHAP analysis revealed that several factors, including higher body mass index (BMI), history of adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy, T-stage of the tumor, lymph node metastasis, central venous catheter use, high intraoperative bleeding, and long operative time, were significantly associated with postoperative VTE.

CONCLUSION: The machine learning algorithm XGBoost derived from this study enables the development of a predictive model for postoperative VTE in patients after radical gastrectomy, thereby assisting clinicians in making informed clinical decisions.

PMID:37228741 | PMC:PMC10202705 | DOI:10.2147/IJGM.S408770

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The Role of EGFR Amplification in Deep Venous Thrombosis Occurrence in IDH Wild-Type Glioblastoma

Curr Oncol. 2023 May 12;30(5):4946-4956. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30050373.

ABSTRACT

Introduction:Glioblastoma (GBM) patients have a 20-30 incidence of venous thromboembolic events. EGFR is a widely used prognostic marker for many cancers. Recent lung cancer studies have described relationships between EGFR amplification and an increased incidence of thromboembolic complications. We aim to explore this relationship in glioblastoma patients. Methods: Two hundred ninety-three consecutive patients with IDH wild-type GBM were included in the analysis. The amplification status of EGFR was measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Centromere 7 (CEP7) expression was recorded to calculate the EGFR-to-CEP7 ratio. All data were collected retrospectively through chart review. Molecular data were obtained through the surgical pathology report at the time of biopsy. Results:There were 112 subjects who were EGFR-amplified (38.2%) and 181 who were non-amplified (61.8%). EGFR amplification status was not significantly correlated with VTE risk overall (p = 0.2001). There was no statistically significant association between VTE and EGFR status after controlling for Bevacizumab therapy (p = 0.1626). EGFR non-amplified status was associated with an increased VTE risk in subjects greater than 60 years of age (p = 0.048). Conclusions:There was no significant difference in occurrence of VTE in patients with glioblastoma, regardless of EGFR amplification status. Patients older than 60 years of age with EGFR amplification experienced a lower rate of VTE, contrary to some reports on non-small-cell lung cancer linking EGFR amplification to VTE risk.

PMID:37232831 | PMC:PMC10217574 | DOI:10.3390/curroncol30050373

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p53 at the Crossroads between Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity and Resistance: A Nutritional Balancing Act

Nutrients. 2023 May 10;15(10):2259. doi: 10.3390/nu15102259.