Cancer treatment-related cardiovascular disease: Current status and future research priorities

With the development of new drugs, such as molecular-targeted drugs, and multidisciplinary therapies, cancer treatment outcomes have improved, and the number of cancer survivors is increasing every year. However, some chemotherapeutic agents cause cardiovascular complications (cancer treatment-related cardiovascular disease, CTRCVD), which affect the life prognosis and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients. Therefore, it is necessary to select treatment methods that take into account the prognosis and QOL of cancer patients, and to take measures against CTRCVD. The mechanism of cardiotoxicity of high-risk drugs, such as doxorubicin and HER2 inhibitors, are still unclear; genetic factors, and cardiovascular disease risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes) are associated with CTRCVD progression. The establishment of methods for prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of CTRCVD and the generation of evidence for these methods are needed. It is also necessary to develop screening methods for chemotherapy cardiotoxicity. In this review, we discuss the current status of CTRCVD, its complications, and expected countermeasures.