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The heart's battle with cancer: Why are many cancer treatments accompanied by cardiac crises?
In cancer treatment, certain drugs, such as anthracyclines, have significant efficacy but are also associated with significant heart risks. Anthracyclines are a class of anticancer drugs extracted from actinomycetes, including doxorubicin, daunorubicin, epirubicin and idarubicin. . This class of drugs has become the cornerstone of treatment for many cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, breast cancer and more.
Anthracyclines are considered one of the most effective anticancer therapies, but their major side effect, cardiotoxicity, often limits their use.
The mechanism of action of anthracyclines includes intercalation into DNA, interference with DNA metabolism and RNA production. Their cytotoxicity is primarily achieved through inhibition of topoisomerase II, a process that leads to DNA double-strand breaks and subsequent cell death. However, behind this powerful treatment lies a potential heart crisis.
Causes of Cardiotoxicity
Cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines is one of their most challenging side effects. Many studies have shown that the effects of these drugs on the heart are often dose-dependent, with toxic effects gradually increasing as treatment continues.
The first signs of heart damage can often be identified by elevated levels of the protein tiran in a blood test.
Early anthracycline therapy can lead to decreased heart function and subsequently heart failure. In some clinical practices, it is recommended to limit the total dose of doxorubicin to reduce the risk of cardiac complications. Studies have shown that above a certain dose, the risk of heart failure increases significantly, especially in certain age groups and in patients with a history of heart disease.
Difficult choices about treatment
Despite their potential for cardiac harm, anthracyclines remain the mainstay of treatment for many cancer patients. Especially for certain types of cancer, such as triple-negative breast cancer, anthracyclines are often used as the cornerstone of neoadjuvant therapy. Patients usually respond better to these drugs and can improve the efficacy after surgery.
Therefore, finding a balance between cancer treatment and heart health becomes a major challenge.
In this regard, research is also continuing to find safer alternatives. Several newly developed nanoparticle drug delivery systems have been proposed that aim to reduce cardiac damage without compromising anti-tumor effects.
Exploration of cardioprotective strategies
With the deepening of research, there are various strategies to reduce the cardiotoxicity caused by anthracyclines. For example, liposomal drugs (such as Doxil) are used to improve this situation. Combined with drug encapsulation technology, they can reduce the impact on normal heart tissue, making it one of the options for treating certain cancer patients.
In addition, studies have shown that certain cardioprotectants, such as dexrazoxane, can reduce heart damage without reducing the effectiveness of treatment. These advances offer new hope for improving heart health in patient care.
Conclusion
Cardiac crises during cancer treatment remain an unsolved mystery, and scientists and doctors must work together to find the best solutions so that patients can receive effective treatment while maintaining heart health. With the advancement of technology, will it be possible to treat cancer in a safer way in the future, thereby reducing damage to the heart?
