Cardiotoxicity after Adjuvant Anthracycline-based Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer

TK Yau

Hong Kong J Radiol 2005;8:26-9

There is growing evidence that anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity may occur at a greater frequency and a lower cumulative dose than previously reported. With the increasing use of anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy to treat breast cancers, more clinical research is needed to evaluate the long-term cardiac risk. The addition of postoperative radiotherapy also raises concern about late cardiac risk in patients with left-side breast cancers. This article reviews the current information on the cardiac risk after adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy.