<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
				
				<p>Background. Trastuzumab therapy given in combination with one of several chemotherapy regimens is currently considered the standard of care for the treatment of early-stage, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer. The treatment with trastuzumab is due to a significant impact on the survival part of the standard adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients treated with postoperative breast or chest wall irradiation receive trastuzumab concomitant with radiotherapy. In a small proportion of patients trastuzumab causes cardiotoxicity. Preclinical findings indicate a radiosensibilizing effect of trastuzumab in breast cancer cells, but it is not yet clear whether it radiosensibilizes cells of healthy tissues too. </p>
				<p>Conclusions. Special attention is required when left breast or left thoracic wall is irradiated in patient receiving trastuzumab, because long-term effects of the concurrent treatment with trastuzumab and radiotherapy are not yet known. In an era where more patients are surviving a diagnosis of breast cancer, better understanding and earlier detection of therapy-induced cardiac toxicity will be of paramount importance.</p>
			</abstract>

Background. Trastuzumab therapy given in combination with one of several chemotherapy regimens is currently considered the standard of care for the treatment of early-stage, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) -positive breast cancer. The treatment with trastuzumab is due to a significant impact on the survival part of the standard adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Patients treated with postoperative breast or chest wall irradiation receive trastuzumab concomitant with radiotherapy. In a small proportion of patients trastuzumab causes cardiotoxicity. Preclinical findings indicate a radiosensibilizing effect of trastuzumab in breast cancer cells, but it is not yet clear whether it radiosensibilizes cells of healthy tissues too. 
				Conclusions. Special attention is required when left breast or left thoracic wall is irradiated in patient receiving trastuzumab, because long-term effects of the concurrent treatment with trastuzumab and radiotherapy are not yet known. In an era where more patients are surviving a diagnosis of breast cancer, better understanding and earlier detection of therapy-induced cardiac toxicity will be of paramount importance.

Cardiotoxicity of concomitant radiotherapy and trastuzumab for early breast cancer

Department of Radiotherapy, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Department of Cardiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Radiology and Oncology

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Background. Trastuzumab therapy given in combination with one of several chemotherapy regimens is currently considered the standard of care for the treatment...

Cardiotoxicity of concomitant radiotherapy and trastuzumab for early breast cancer

Published Online: Apr 25, 2014

Page range: 105 - 112

Received: Mar 15, 2013

Accepted: Apr 12, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2013-0040

Keywords
radiotherapy, cardiotoxicity, trastuzumab, early breast cancer

© by Tanja Marinko

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cardiotoxicity of concomitant radiotherapy and trastuzumab for early breast cancer

Published Online: Apr 25, 2014

Page range: 105 - 112

Received: Mar 15, 2013

Accepted: Apr 12, 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2013-0040

Keywordsradiotherapy, cardiotoxicity, trastuzumab, early breast cancer

© by Tanja Marinko

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
radiotherapy, cardiotoxicity, trastuzumab, early breast cancer