Citations

e12522 Background: Trastuzumab is widely used in management of HER2+ breast cancer patients. A known adverse effect of trastuzumab use is cardiac dysfunction, which can often be reversed with cessation of therapy. Our objectives were to 1) assess if trastuzumab can be safely administered to breast cancer patients with reduced cardiac function and 2) identify patient characteristics that predict susceptibility to trastuzumab-induced cardiac dysfunction. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on female patients seen at Mayo Clinic for HER2+ breast cancer and treated with trastuzumab for localized or metastatic disease between January 1, 2000 and August 31, 2015. Eligibility criteria included documentation of and results from at least one echocardiogram prior to and at least one after trastuzumab initiation. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) of 53% or more was considered normal. Any LVEF reduction of 10% or more was considered significant. Among patients with normal EF, age strata of < 45, 45-60, and > 60 at time of trastuzumab initiation were used to assess risk factors for clinically diagnosed cardiac dysfunction (defined as EF < 53 or abnormal strain and physical symptoms of heart failure (HF)). Results: We identified 335 women (mean age 53.3, with 25.3% age < 45, 44.5% age 45-60, and 30.1% age > 60) who had normal LVEF (median EF 64, range: 53-75) and 23 women (mean age 53.4, with 30.4% age < 45, 43.5% age 45-60, and 26.1% age > 60) who had low LVEF at baseline (median EF 52, range: 25-52). Approximately a third (34.3%) of women with normal LVEF prior to initiation of therapy had at least one subsequent echocardiogram showing a drop of 10% or a low LVEF ( < 53). Approximately a quarter (26%) of women with low LVEF at baseline had a 10% drop in LVEF. HF incidence increased with age. Predictive factors for trastuzumab-induced cardiac dysfunction were obesity and history of coronary artery disease (CAD) across all age strata, and chest irradiation (IR) for those aged 45-60 only. Conclusions: Our results suggest that trastuzumab can be administered in women with reduced cardiac function at no greater risk than in those with preserved cardiac function. Some women with no obesity, history of CAD, or history of chest IR may not need echocardiograms during trastuzumab therapy.

Background and aim Thoracic radiation therapy (XRT) for cancer is associated with the development of significant coronary artery disease that may require coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG). Contemporary acute surgical outcomes and long-term postoperative survival of patients with prior XRT have not been well characterised. Methods This was a retrospective, single-centre study of patients with a history of thoracic XRT who required CABG and who were propensity matched against 141 controls who underwent CABG over the same time period. The objectives were to assess early CABG outcomes and long-term survival in patients with prior XRT. Results Thirty-eight patients with a history of previous thoracic XRT underwent CABG from 1994 to 2013. The median time from XRT exposure to surgery was 7.9 years (IQR: 2.5–18.4 years). Perioperative adverse events were similar in the XRT group and controls; however, there was a trends lower utilisation of internal mammary artery (IMA) grafts in the XRT group (89%vs98%, P=0.13). After a median postoperative follow-up of 5.4 years (IQR 0.9–9.4 years), no difference in long-term all-cause mortality was observed. Conclusion Patients with prior thoracic XRT who undergo CABG have similar long-term all-cause mortality compared with controls. Isolated CABG after thoracic XRT is not associated with higher perioperative complications, but IMA graft use may be limited by prior XRT.

Uric acid is a risk factor for coronary artery disease in postmenopausal women, but the association with inflammation and coronary endothelial dysfunction (CED) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of serum uric acid (SUA), inflammatory markers, and CED. In this prospective cohort study, SUA, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels, and neutrophil count were measured in 229 postmenopausal women who underwent diagnostic catheterization, were found to have no obstructive coronary artery disease, and underwent coronary microvascular function testing, to measure coronary blood flow response to intracoronary acetylcholine. The average age was 58 years (interquartile range, 52–66 years). Hypertension was present in 48%, type 2 diabetes mellitus in 5.6%, and hyperlipidemia in 61.8%. CED was diagnosed in 59% of postmenopausal women. Mean uric acid level was 4.7±1.3 mg/dL. Postmenopausal women with CED had significantly higher SUA compared with patients without CED (4.9±1.3 versus 4.4±1.3 mg/dL; P =0.02). There was a significant correlation between SUA and percent change in coronary blood flow to acetylcholine ( P =0.009), and this correlation persisted in multivariable analysis. SUA levels were significantly associated with increased neutrophil count ( P =0.02) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels ( P =0.006) among patients with CED, but not among those without CED. SUA is associated with CED in postmenopausal women and may be related to inflammation. These findings link SUA levels to early coronary atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.

Once universally considered a rapidly fatal condition, cancer has increasingly become a chronic medical condition and comorbidities and adverse effects of cancer therapies have become increasingly significant. One of the leading advancements that has gained traction for the treatment of a variety of malignancies is the class of small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Although, in many aspects revolutionary, TKIs have their own profile of side effects, including cardiovascular side effects, the most common being hypertension (HTN), congestive heart failure, corrected QT (QTc) prolongation, and instances of premature coronary heart disease. Herein, we describe the mechanisms of small TKI‐induced cardiovascular toxicity and related intracellular signaling. In particular, systems‐based approaches to the understanding of small TKI‐induced cardiovascular toxicity are addressed. The pathophysiology of synergic cardiovascular toxicity from TKIs, anthracyclines, and monoclonal antibodies (e.g., trastuzumab, bevacizumab) is illustrated. Finally, recommendations are made for implementing systems medicine in clinical practice, for individualized cardiovascular wellness after cancer therapy.