Tag Archives: cardio-oncology

Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer treatment, significantly improving survival across many tumour types. For instance, the 10-year results of the CheckMate-067 trial in metastatic melanoma reported a 43% overall survival (OS) rate, compared with under 5% before ICIs.1 ICIs function by inhibiting regulatory proteins expressed by immune cells, reducing self-tolerance and enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognise tumour cells. Most commercially available ICIs target the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)

Introduction Cardiotoxicity, primarily in the form of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, is a feared side-effect of selected drugs that are widely used in oncology.1,2 To reduce its occurrence, practice guidelines consistently recommend assessing LV systolic function, primarily by echocardiography, before and during exposure to cardiotoxic medications.3 However, apart from left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), contemporary echocardiography reports include dozens of numerical data points, as well as detailed information about haemodynamics, all the cardiac chambers and the heart valves; and some of this information may be clinically relev

Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionised outcomes in a number of advanced cancers. The median life-expectancy for patients with metastatic melanoma was nine months prior to the introduction of ICIs in 2011.1 One-year survival is now over 70%, and over half of patients are still alive at three years,2 with multiple phase II and III trials demonstrating durable responses in a range of tumour types.3 ICIs are antibodies that block the cytotoxic T-cell regulators lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4; ipilimumab), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1; nivolumab, pembrolizumab and cemiplimab) or the PD-1 ligand (ate

Stat tests loaded into the VITROS XT 7600 Moderate alcohol consumption does not protect against stroke Blood pressure and stroke risk increase steadily with increasing alcohol intake, and previous claims that one to two alcoholic drinks a day might protect against stroke are not borne out by new evidence from a genetic study involving 160,000 adults. Studies of East Asian genes, where two common genetic variants strongly affect what people choose to drink, show that alcohol itself directly increases blood pressure and the chances of having a stroke, according to a new study published in The Lancet (doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31772-0). Researc

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Introduction With an ageing population, the incidence of cancer is rising.1 This, coupled with the development of newer and more effective cancer treatments, has led to an increasing number of cancer survivors. Unfortunately, many of these treatments can be cardiotoxic, and prevention, early detection, long-term monitoring and treatment of ensuing cardiac problems in these patients is a growing problem.2 Cardio-oncology services aim to provide cardiac care for cancer patients and survivors.3,4 Rationale for a cardio-oncology service The care of cancer patients is becoming increasingly complex with a rapid increase in the number of available a