Adrian Tase
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chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, breast cancer, betablockers.
Anthracyclines and molecular targeted therapy, pharmacologic agents currently used in breast cancer, are potentially cardiotoxic, leading to cardiac dysfunction, and even to overt heart failure. This paper reviews the art of protecting the heart in breast cancer recipients of chemotherapy with betablockers. The main mechanism of anthracycline induced cardiotoxicity is the oxydative stress, occurring in mitochondrial arena. Recent trials supporting β-blockers cardioprotection in this particular population of patients are discussed. As a result of these studies, betablockers are, along with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone antagonists, statins, and dexrazoxane, the most cardioprotective drugs. The paper also covers some methods (biomarkers, imaging), integrating the sphere of prevention with those of monitoring and treatment. The trials outcomes are illustrated by curves, plots, histograms, tables, etc.
