Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity: new insights into mechanisms, monitoring, and prevention

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity (CTX) remains a determining factor for the quality of life and mortality of patients treated with potentially cardiotoxic drugs. Considerable advances have been made in this field with increase in awareness regarding chemotherapy-induced CTX, which has changed the treatment approach to include cardiovascular risk among the first factors to be evaluated before therapy. Moreover, a better understanding of the pathophysiology of chemotherapy-induced CTX has also facilitated early identification of patients at risk with the help of new imaging technologies. The newly developed imaging tools in cardio-oncology have led to the introduction of novel parameters for evaluation of myocardial function. This, together with a renewed standardization of measurements, has increased the adherence to monitoring protocols. With respect to treatment and prevention, researchers have started focusing attention on the development of new strategies as well as new cardioprotective agents that will play a crucial role in the prevention of CTX in the near future.