Trastuzumab-Related Cardiotoxicity: Calling Into Question the Concept of Reversibility

2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (23) ◽  
pp. 3525-3533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda L. Telli ◽  
Sharon A. Hunt ◽  
Robert W. Carlson ◽  
Alice E. Guardino

Purpose To assess the spectrum and reversibility of the cardiotoxicity observed in the adjuvant trastuzumab trials. Design The design and efficacy of the major adjuvant trastuzumab trials was assessed, including the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) B-31, North Central Cancer Treatment Group N9831, Herceptin Adjuvant, Breast Cancer International Research Group 006, and Finland Herceptin trials. The cardiotoxicity data were evaluated with a focus on the follow-up cardiac evaluations of women who were diagnosed with cardiotoxicity. Proposed mechanisms of trastuzumab-related cardiotoxicity were considered. The natural history of congestive heart failure (CHF) was reviewed with the goal of placing the trastuzumab experience in context. Results Up to 4% of patients enrolled onto the adjuvant trastuzumab trials experienced severe CHF during treatment. In these trials, early stopping rules that identified an unacceptable level of cardiotoxicity were never reached. Despite this, a large number of patients on these trials experienced some form of cardiotoxicity that ultimately required discontinuation of trastuzumab. Approximately 14% of patients in the NSABP B-31 trial discontinued trastuzumab because of asymptomatic decreases in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results of follow-up cardiac evaluations of patients diagnosed with any degree of cardiotoxicity in the NSABP B-31 trial document that a clinically significant proportion of patients have sustained decrements in their LVEF to less than 50%. Conclusion Adjuvant trastuzumab provides substantial benefits to patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–positive breast cancer, however, competing immediate and long-term cardiovascular risks are a great concern. Continued cardiac follow-up of these women is of critical importance.

2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (34) ◽  
pp. 5685-5692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heikki Joensuu ◽  
Petri Bono ◽  
Vesa Kataja ◽  
Tuomo Alanko ◽  
Riitta Kokko ◽  
...  

Purpose Docetaxel has not been compared with vinorelbine as adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer. Efficacy and long-term safety of a short course of adjuvant trastuzumab administered concomitantly with chemotherapy for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –positive cancer are unknown. Patients and Methods One thousand ten women with axillary node–positive or high-risk node-negative breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive three cycles of docetaxel or vinorelbine, followed in both groups by three cycles of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC). Women with HER2-positive cancer (n = 232) were further assigned to either receive or not receive trastuzumab for 9 weeks with docetaxel or vinorelbine. The median follow-up time was 62 months after random assignment. Results Women assigned to docetaxel had better distant disease–free survival (DDFS) than those assigned to vinorelbine (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.91; P = .010). In the subgroup of HER2-positive disease, patients treated with trastuzumab tended to have better DDFS than those treated with chemotherapy only (HR = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.38 to 1.12; P = .12; with adjustment for presence of axillary nodal metastases, HR = 0.57; P = .047). In exploratory analyses, docetaxel, trastuzumab, and FEC improved DDFS compared with docetaxel plus FEC (HR = 0.32; P = .029) and vinorelbine, trastuzumab, and FEC (HR = 0.31; P = .020). The median left ventricular ejection fraction of trastuzumab-treated patients remained unaltered during the 5-year follow-up; only one woman treated with trastuzumab was diagnosed with a heart failure. Conclusion Adjuvant treatment with docetaxel improves DDFS compared with vinorelbine. A brief course of trastuzumab administered concomitantly with docetaxel is safe and effective and warrants further evaluation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Leon-Justel ◽  
Jose I. Morgado Garcia-Polavieja ◽  
Ana Isabel Alvarez-Rios ◽  
Francisco Jose Caro Fernandez ◽  
Pedro Agustin Pajaro Merino ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a major and growing medical and economic problem, with high prevalence and incidence rates worldwide. Cardiac Biomarker is emerging as a novel tool for improving management of patients with HF with a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF). Methods This is a before and after interventional study, that assesses the impact of a personalized follow-up procedure for HF on patient’s outcomes and care associated cost, based on a clinical model of risk stratification and personalized management according to that risk. A total of 192 patients were enrolled and studied before the intervention and again after the intervention. The primary objective was the rate of readmissions, due to a HF. Secondary outcome compared the rate of ED visits and quality of life improvement assessed by the number of patients who had reduced NYHA score. A cost-analysis was also performed on these data. Results Admission rates significantly decreased by 19.8% after the intervention (from 30.2 to 10.4), the total hospital admissions were reduced by 32 (from 78 to 46) and the total length of stay was reduced by 7 days (from 15 to 9 days). The rate of ED visits was reduced by 44% (from 64 to 20). Thirty-one percent of patients had an improved functional class score after the intervention, whereas only 7.8% got worse. The overall cost saving associated with the intervention was € 72,769 per patient (from € 201,189 to € 128,420) and €139,717.65 for the whole group over 1 year. Conclusions A personalized follow-up of HF patients led to important outcome benefits and resulted in cost savings, mainly due to the reduction of patient hospitalization readmissions and a significant reduction of care-associated costs, suggesting that greater attention should be given to this high-risk cohort to minimize the risk of hospitalization readmissions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F Posch ◽  
T Glantschnig ◽  
S Firla ◽  
M Smolle ◽  
M Balic ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Monitoring left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a routinely-practiced strategy to survey patients with breast cancer (BC) towards cardiotoxic treatment effects. However, whether the LVEF as a single measurement or as a trajectory over time is truly sufficient to identify patients at high risk for cardiotoxicity is currently debated. Purpose To quantify the prognostic impact of LVEF and its change over time for predicting cardiotoxicity in women with HER2+ early BC. Methods We analyzed 1,136 echocardiography reports from 185 HER2+ early BC patients treated with trastuzumab ± chemoimmunoendocrine therapy in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting (Table 1). Cardiotoxicity was defined as a 10% decline in LVEF below 50%. Results Median baseline LVEF was 64% (25th-75th percentile: 60–69). Nineteen patients (10%) experienced cardiotoxicity (asymptomatic n=12, symptomatic n=7, during treatment n=19, treatment modification/termination n=14), Median time to cardiotoxicity was 6.7 months, and median LVEF decline in patients with cardiotoxicity was 18%. One-year cardiotoxicity risk was 7.6% in the 35 patients with a baseline LVEF≥60% and 24.5% in the 150 patients with a baseline LVEF<60% (Hazard Ratio (HR)=3.45, 95% CI: 1.35–8.75, Figure 1). During treatment, LVEF declined significantly faster in patients who developed cardiotoxicity than in patients without cardiotoxicity (1.3%/month vs. 0.1%/month, p<0.0001). A higher rate of LVEF decrease predicted for higher cardiotoxicity risk (HR per 0.1%/month higher LVEF decrease/month=2.50, 95% CI: 1.31–4.76, p=0.005), and cardiotoxicity risk increased by a factor of 1.7 per 5% absolute LVEF decline from baseline to first follow-up (HR=1.70, 95% CI: 1.30–2.38, p<0.0001). Thirty-six patients (19%) developed an LVEF decline of at least 5% from baseline to first follow-up (“early LVEF decline”). One-year cardiotoxicity risk was 6.8% in those without early LVEF decline and a baseline LVEF≥60% (n=117), 15.7% in those without an early LVEF decline and a baseline LVEF<60% (n=65), and 66.7% in those with an early LVEF decline and a baseline LVEF<60% (n=3), respectively (log-rank p<0.0001). Table 1. Baseline characteristics Age (years, median [IQR]) 55 [49–65] Estrogen receptor positive (n, %) 124 (67%) Neoadjuvant setting (n, %) 103 (56%) Figure 1. Risk of Cardiotoxicity. Conclusion Both a single LVEF measurement and the rate of LVEF decrease strongly predict cardiotoxicity in early BC patients undergoing HER2-targeted therapy. Routine LVEF monitoring identifies individuals at high risk of cardiotoxicity that may benefit from more sensitive screening techniques such as strain imaging.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H Steen ◽  
M Montenbruck ◽  
P Wuelfing ◽  
S Esch ◽  
A K Schwarz ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The incidence of cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy is underestimated due to limitations of current diagnostic tests. Current biomarkers (BNP, NT-pro-BNP, hs-Troponin, etc.) and imaging calculations (e.g. echocardiography) such as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are currently included in the guidelines to designate cardiotoxicity during cancer therapy. Unfortunately, these diagnostics identify systemic damage in symptomatic patients after the heart is unable to compensate for regional dysfunction. Fast-SENC segmental intramyocardial strain (fSENC) is a unique cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) test that regionally detects subclinical intramyocardial dysfunction in 1 heartbeat. Methods This single center, prospective Prefect Study was used to evaluate cardiotoxicity and the impact of cardioprotective therapy in Breast Cancer and Lymphoma patients (NCT03543228). fSENC was acquired with a 1.5T MRI and processed with the software to quantify intramyocardial strain. Segmental strain was measured in three short axis scans (basal, midventricular, apical) with 16 LV/6 RV longitudinal segments & three long axis scans (2-, 3-, 4-chamber) with 21 LV/5 RV circumferential segments. fSENC CMR was performed before chemotherapy, during and after anthracycline/taxane therapy, at 1 year follow-up, and as needed in between designated follow-up periods. Cardioprotective therapy was offered to patients meeting the definition of cardiotoxicity by the ESC Guidelines on Cardiotoxicity and/or ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines or those observing a substantial decline in cardiac function. Results Two hundred eight (208) CMRs were performed in fifty-two (52) patients (44 female). Patients had an average (± stdev) age of 53 (15) yrs, BMI of 26 (5) kg/m2; 77% had breast cancer, 23% had Lymphoma. fSENC CMRs required 11 (2) min total exam time. The % of normal fSENC (segmental stain <−17%) with a threshold of 65% showed a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 89% in detecting cardiotoxicity while echocardiography GLS with a threshold of −17% observed a sensitivity of 20% and specificity of 88%. Figure 1 shows receiver operating characteristic curves for fSENC based on the percent of normal myocardium, and echocardiography global longitudinal strain (GLS) respectively. Global fSENC had substantially lower sensitivity than segmental fSENC despite having higher accuracy than the other global metrics. Figure 1 Conclusion Segmental fSENC intramyocardial strain detects subclinical dysfunction due to cardiotoxic response of chemotherapy before other biomarkers and imaging modalities. The ability to detect the subclinical cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy agents, or other pharmacological agents that cause or worsen heart failure, enables proactive prescription of cardioprotective medications to avoid tissue remodeling that precedes systemic cardiac dysfunction and worsening of global measures such as LVEF and current biomarkers.


2007 ◽  
Vol 25 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1106-1106 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Stickeler ◽  
D. O. Watermann ◽  
J. Woll ◽  
M. Foeldi ◽  
G. Gitsch

1106 Background: Combination therapy of doxorubicin and trastuzumab is highly effective for Her2 positive MBC but characterized by frequent cardiac toxicity (CT). PLD can significantly reduce CT compared to conventional doxorubicin. Patients and Methods: 15 patients were enrolled in a phase II trial to evaluate cardiac safety of T (4 mg/Kg loading dose day 2, followed by weekly 2 mg/Kg) in combination with PLD (40 mg/m2 IV bolus day 1, q 28 d). 75% of pts. presented with more than 1 metastatic site and 40% for second line treatment. PLD was administered for 6 or 9 cycles, respectively, T until disease progression. To assess CT, all pts were evaluated with electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiograms (E) for Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) at baseline, every cycle during PLD and T, and every three months during T therapy alone. CT was defined as appearance of signs/ symptoms of congestive heart failure and/or an absolute decrease in LVEF > 10 units (below 50%) or decrease in LVEF > 15 units (above 50%). Results: Four pts. received 6 cycles, 4 pts. received 9 cycles of PLD, 4 pts discontinued treatment due to PD, 3 pts. due to toxicity. After a median follow up time of 15.4 months, 6 pts. (42.9%) demonstrated a clinical benefit and median OS was 16.2 months. Non cardiac side effects were mild with only 3 CTC Grade 3 events of 247 treatment cycles (1.2%). Three pts. developed minor ECG changes without pathological significance and 5 pts. had minor changes in their E with slight diastolic (n=3) or systolic (n=2) dysfunction. During follow-up, 3 pts. were diagnosed with pathological E findings, including 1 slight decrease of LVEF, one diffuse hypokinesia and one strong decrease in LVEF.The median LVEF in the study cohort was 66.1% at baseline, 62.7% after 6 cycles of therapy, 64.4% at the first follow up and did not change significantly until the 5 th examination. Conclusions: This study supports the combination of PLD and H in pts. with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer as a safe and feasible therapy. Due to the promising clinical response rates in this prognostically unfavorable group, this combination should be evaluated in larger studies as a potential regimen for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 561-561
Author(s):  
V. Shih ◽  
A. Chan ◽  
J. Chiang ◽  
C. Teo ◽  
J. Chen ◽  
...  

561 Background: Adjuvant trastuzumab (T)-based chemotherapy has been shown to reduce relapse and improve survival in breast cancer patients but has been associated with increased risks of cardiotoxicity. Our study aims to define the incidence and severity of cardiotoxicity amongst Asian breast cancer patients. Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients who have received adjuvant T from June 2005 to 2007. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a drop in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to less than 50% and/or reduction of > 10% of baseline. Cardiovascular (CVS) risk factors were defined as having a family history or presence of CAD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and smoking. We used pair sampled t-test to evaluate the mean LVEF change and Chi-square test to evaluate the association of cardiotoxicity and demographics. Results: There were 179 female patients. Cardiotoxicity was reported in 70 (39.1%), of whom 59 had asymptomatic decline in LVEF and 11 experienced CHF. Mean LVEF, comparing various time points (3, 6, 9 and 12 months) against baseline showed statistically significant decline (p<0.05). T was withheld (n=33) due to asymptomatic decline in LVEF (n=24), symptomatic heart failure (n=4) and both (n=5). Twenty-one with resolution of CHF (n=7) or LVEF recovery (n=14) were rechallenged. Cardiotoxicity recurred in 9 - asymptomatic decline in LVEF (n=8) and recurrent CHF (n=1). There were no cardiac-related deaths. Neither patient demographics nor CVS risk factors predicted for cardiotoxicity. Conclusions: This is one of the largest series reported in Asians receiving T. As previously reported, T-induced cardiotoxicity resulted in mostly asymptomatic reversible decline in LVEF. Our incidence of cardiotoxicity appeared higher (39.1%) in Asians and more importantly, almost half of the patients experienced cardiotoxicity upon rechallenge. It would be prudent to explore whether there is any difference in susceptibility to T-induced cardiotoxicity between the different races. [Table: see text] No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Karmous ◽  
E Bennour ◽  
I Kammoun ◽  
A Sghaier ◽  
W Chaieb ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cardio-oncology has arisen as one of the most rapidly expanding fields of cardiovascular medicine. The accumulated evidence on the possibilities of early diagnosis of cardiotoxicity provided by imaging techniques as well as on the benefits of preventive and therapeutic interventions is also increasing. Objective This study reported our echocardiography lab's initial experience of a cardio-oncology follow-up program. Methods We prospectively studied the outcomes of 107 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who attended our follow-up program between 2017 and 2020. An echocardiographic monitoring were realised according to the chemotherapy protocol. Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) is defined, according to the european society of cardiology (ESC) guidelines of 2016, as a drop of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by &gt;10 percentage points from baseline to a value &lt;50%. A new entity named subclinical systolic dysfunction, is defined by a drop of global longitudinal strain (GLS) by &gt;15% from baseline, however, LVEF remains &gt;50%. The diagnosis should be confirmed by a second echocardiogram after 2–3 weeks. Results We enrolled 107 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and receiving anthracycline and/or trastuzumab. 27 patients were excluded for many reasons: 17 patients were lost to follow-up, 10 patients had an inadequate echo-imaging (8 had a follow-up without measurement of GLS and 2 patients were poorly echogenic). Only eighty patients were finally retained. The average age of our patients was 49.9±10.8 years. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was at 64±4.4%. The incidence of CTRCD was 6%. the mean delay of diagnosis from the onset of chemotherapy was 174 days. It was reversible in 60% of cases after the initiation of a cardioprotective treatment which allowed the anti-cancer treatment pursuit. The incidence of subclinical cardiac dysfunction was 25%. The mean delay between the initiation of anti-cancer treatment and the diagnosis was 314.5 days. A cardioprotective treatment with Bblockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was prescribed and all these patients recovered a normal GLS with a mean delay of three months and pursuied their chemotherapy. Conclusion We showed that timely cardiovascular evaluation, intervention and close monitoring in the context of a structured service allowed the majority of patients (99%) to pursue their anti-cancer treatment and to avoid the evolution to CTRCD in patients diagnosed with subclinical cardiac dysfunction. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Treated subclinical cardiac dysfunction


2009 ◽  
Vol 27 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e11520-e11520
Author(s):  
K. Fedenko ◽  
P. Cortazar ◽  
P. Keegan ◽  
R. Pazdur

e11520 Background: Trastuzumab can result in sub-clinical and clinical cardiac failure manifesting as congestive heart failure (CHF), and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods: Data was reviewed from 9837 patients in four randomized trials (NCCTG 9831, NSABP B-31, HERA, and BCIRG-06) that supported trastuzumab HER2 overexpressing adjuvant breast cancer approval. Results: Trastuzumab can cause left ventricular cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, hypertension, disabling cardiac failure, cardiomyopathy, and cardiac death. Herceptin can also cause asymptomatic decline in LVEF. There is a 4−6 fold increase in the incidence of symptomatic myocardial dysfunction among patients receiving trastuzumab as a single agent or in combination therapy compared with those not receiving trastuzumab. The highest absolute incidence occurs when trastuzumab is administered with an anthracycline. Clinical trials NCCTG 9831, NSABP B-31, and BCIRG-06 included arms with doxorubicin- cyclophosphamide (AC) followed by a taxane plus trastuzumab. Among 32 patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy from studies NCCTG 9831 and NSABP B-31 who developed CHF, one patient died of cardiomyopathy and all other patients were receiving cardiac medication at last follow-up. Approximately half of the patients recovered to a normal LVEF (defined as ≥ 50%) on continuing medical management at the time of last follow-up. In BCIRG-06 the incidence of CHF was six (6) fold higher in the AC followed by docetaxel plus trastuzumab arm as compared to AC followed by docetaxel. There was a lower incidence of CHF in the non-anthracycline TCH (docetaxel, carboplatin and trastuzumab) arm in BCIRG-06 comparable to trastuzumab monotherapy. Conclusions: Cardiotoxicity manifesting as sub-clinical and clinical cardiac failure is a known side effect of trastuzumab. In an era where trastuzumab is given earlier in the treatment of breast cancer (adjuvant setting), the safety of continuation or resumption of trastuzumab in patients with trastuzumab-induced left ventricular cardiac dysfunction has not been studied. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weijian Huang ◽  
Lan Su ◽  
Songjie Wang ◽  
Shengjie Wu ◽  
Lei Xu ◽  
...  

Introduction: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel pacing method and has been proven to have low and stable pacing thresholds. However, data on large numbers of patients with long-term follow-up is still needed to evaluate its feasibility and safety. Hypothesis: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of LBBP in a large sample with long-term follow up. Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 632 consecutive patients with left bundle branch block, AV block or sick sinus syndrome with attempted LBBP from April 2017 to July 2019. Pacing parameters, ECG, echocardiographic measurements, complications were assessed at implant, and during follow-up of 1, 6, 12 and 24 months. Results: LBBP was successful in 618/632 (97.8%) patients according to the strict criteria for LBB capture. Mean follow-up time was 17.8±6.9 months. LBB capture threshold at implant was 0.65±0.27 [email protected] and 0.71±0.35 [email protected] at 2-year follow-up (n=166). Left ventricular ejection fraction were improved in QRS≥120ms and <120ms groups (60.62±14.22% vs. 63.95±11.29 %, p<0.001; 49.77±17.58 % vs. 58.58±12.79 %, p<0.001; respectively). The number of patients with moderate and sever tricuspid regurgitation decreased at 1-year (120 to 66;28 to 16; respectively). Permanent right bundle branch injury occurred in 55 (8.9%) patients. LBB capture threshold increased greater than 2 V in 6 patients, loss of capture in 2 patients, two lead dislodgements requiring operative revision within 1 month after implantation during 2-years follow-up. Conclusions: Feasibility and safety of LBBP were confirmed by this large sample size and long-term follow-up study. It is a reliable physiologic method for standards pacing indications.


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