ABSTRACT

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths and the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide due to several common risk factors, including hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and other causes of cirrhosis. In HCC, intrahepatic vascular invasion and a tumor thrombus are commonly observed. However, the extrahepatic spread of the tumor thrombus to the heart via the portal vein, hepatic vein, and inferior vena cava (IVC) is rarely reported and is considered a poor prognostic factor. In addition, rarely, there is a risk of cor pulmonale and thromboembolism of the pulmonary vessels. Our patient also presented with this rare complication of HCC. Our patient's clinical presentation was bilateral pedal edema, moderate ascites, and abdominal discomfort with raised jugular venous pressure. These signs and symptoms are related to an impairment of the right heart caused by intracardiac tumor thrombus metastasis, leading to diastolic dysfunction. Based on these findings, echocardiography and abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan were performed with the definitive diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma with tumor thrombus metastases in the hepatic vein, inferior vena cava, and right atrium. The management team agreed on a conservative treatment plan based on the advanced stage of the disease and the high risk associated with aggressive treatment modalities. Unfortunately, on day 7 of admission, the patient died from a possible pulmonary embolism that led to cardiopulmonary arrest. This case underscores the importance of screening patients with a high HCC tumor burden with abdominal ultrasound and echocardiography for early detection and timely management.

PMID:37746383 | PMC:PMC10515291 | DOI:10.7759/cureus.43965

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PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Nomogram for Predicting Risk of Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Breast Cancer

J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Sep 26:e029465. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.029465. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Background Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is an important treatment-limiting toxicity for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer that adversely affects cancer and cardiovascular outcomes. Easy-to-use tools that incorporate readily accessible clinical variables for individual estimation of CTRCD risk are needed. Methods and Results From 2004 to 2013, 1440 patients with stage I to III HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab-based therapy were identified. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to identify risk factors for CTRCD and included the 1377 patients in whom data were complete. Nine clinical variables, including age, race, body mass index, left ventricular ejection fraction, systolic blood pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, arrhythmia, and anthracycline exposure were built into a nomogram estimating risk of CTRCD at 1 year. The nomogram was validated for calibration and discrimination using bootstrap resampling. A total of 177 CTRCD events occurred within 1 year of HER2-targeted treatment. The nomogram for prediction of 1-year CTRCD probability demonstrated good discrimination, with a concordance index of 0.687. The predicted and observed probabilities of CTRCD were similar, demonstrating good model calibration. Conclusions A nomogram composed of 9 readily accessible clinical variables provides an individualized 1-year risk estimate of CTRCD among women with HER2-positive breast cancer receiving HER2-targeted therapy. This nomogram represents a simple-to-use tool for clinicians and patients that can inform clinical decision-making on breast cancer treatment options, optimal frequency of cardiac surveillance, and role of cardioprotective strategies.

PMID:37750581 | DOI:10.1161/JAHA.123.029465

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PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

When helping hurts: restricting cardiotoxicity of cancer therapeutics with accurate cardiovascular risk assessment works!

Eur J Prev Cardiol. 2023 Sep 25:zwad273. doi: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwad273. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:37747453 | DOI:10.1093/eurjpc/zwad273

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PubMed articles on: Cardio-Oncology

Cardiovascular adverse events of antineoplastic monoclonal antibodies among cancer patients: real-world evidence from a tertiary healthcare system

Cardiooncology. 2023 Sep 25;9(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s40959-023-00184-z.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Antineoplastic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), such as trastuzumab, bevacizumab, and pertuzumab have been the mainstay of therapy in cancer patients. Despite proven efficacy of the monoclonal antibodies, cardiovascular-induced adverse events such as heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmias, thromboembolic events, and hemorrhage remain a major complication. The European society of cardiology address that concern with antineoplastic monoclonal antibodies issuing a guideline to manage and monitor chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. There is limited evidence of the real-world prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) events induced by monoclonal antibodies among patients with cancer in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular adverse events among patients with cancer treated with monoclonal antibodies in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary care hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data were obtained from an electronic medical record of patients with cancer treated with one of the selected monoclonal antibodies, who met the inclusion criteria between January 2005 until June 2015 and have been followed up for at least one year. Patients were stratified into groups according to monoclonal antibodies treatment: trastuzumab, bevacizumab, pertuzumab, and combined mAbs.

RESULTS: A total of 1067 patient were included in the study, within the pre-determined study period. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease among patients with cancer treated with monoclonal antibodies was 16.3%. The prevalence of heart failure was relatively higher in the trastuzumab group (46/626 patients, 7.3%). Among 418 patients treated with bevacizumab, hypertension was the most frequent adverse event, reported in 38 patients (9.1%), followed by thromboembolism reported in 27 patients (6.5%). Treatment discontinuation owing to cardiovascular adverse events was reported in 42/1,067 patients (3.9%).

CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Prevalence of antineoplastic monoclonal antibody induced cardiovascular adverse events among patients with cancer is substantially high in Saudi Arabia. There is an urgent need to streamline the practice for identifying high risk patients and flexible referral system for cardio-oncology care.

PMID:37749652 | PMC:PMC10519122 | DOI:10.1186/s40959-023-00184-z

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

ASO Visual Abstract: In-Hospital Venous Thromboembolism and Pulmonary Embolism After Major Urological Cancer Surgery

Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep 25. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-14315-4. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:37743458 | DOI:10.1245/s10434-023-14315-4

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Surgery As a Trigger for Incident Venous Thromboembolism: Results from a Population-Based Case-Crossover Study

TH Open. 2023 Sep 20;7(3):e244-e250. doi: 10.1055/a-2159-9957. eCollection 2023 Jul.

ABSTRACT

Background Surgery is a major transient risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the impact of major surgery as a VTE trigger has been scarcely investigated using a case-crossover design. Aim To investigate the role of major surgery as a trigger for incident VTE in a population-based case-crossover study while adjusting for other concomitant VTE triggers. Methods We conducted a case-crossover study with 531 cancer-free VTE cases derived from the Tromsø Study cohort. Triggers were registered during the 90 days before a VTE event (hazard period) and in four preceding 90-day control periods. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE according to major surgery and after adjustment for other VTE triggers. Results Surgery was registered in 85 of the 531 (16.0%) hazard periods and in 38 of the 2,124 (1.8%) control periods, yielding an OR for VTE of 11.40 (95% CI: 7.42-17.51). The OR decreased to 4.10 (95% CI: 2.40-6.94) after adjustment for immobilization and infection and was further attenuated to 3.31 (95% CI: 1.83-5.96) when additionally adjusted for trauma, blood transfusion, and central venous catheter. In a mediation analysis, 51.4% (95% CI: 35.5-79.7%) of the effect of surgery on VTE risk could be mediated through immobilization and infection. Conclusions Major surgery was a trigger for VTE, but the association between surgery and VTE risk was in part explained by other VTE triggers often coexisting with surgery, particularly immobilization and infection.

PMID:37736074 | PMC:PMC10511275 | DOI:10.1055/a-2159-9957

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PubMed articles on: Cancer & VTE/PE

Safety and efficacy of oral anticoagulants in extreme weights

Thromb Res. 2023 Sep 12;231:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.thromres.2023.09.001. Online ahead of print.