Study of Heart Health Effects After Modern Radiotherapy in Women Treated for Breast Cancer

What this Trial Is About

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in Europe, representing 29% of cases, with a 5-year survival rate around 90%. Treatment often includes surgery, radiotherapy RT, anthracyclines, aromatase inhibitors, and trastuzumab Herceptin, which have improved survival. However, RT can lead to various cardiovascular diseases, a leading cause of non-cancer death among these patients. New RT techniques have reduced heart radiation exposure, but their impact on cardiovascular risks is not yet known. This observational study follows two groups of breast cancer patients one treated with conventional RT between 2007 and 2012, and another treated with laser-assisted breath-controlled RT between 2015 and 2017. Both groups may have also received anthracyclines andor trastuzumab. The study includes age-matched female controls from the general population to compare cardiovascular outcomes over 15 years. Participants will be monitored for the incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases at 8 and 15 years after RT. Researchers will use cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, coronary fractional flow reserve, ECG, and biomarkers to detect acute heart toxicity and assess its ability to predict later cardiovascular problems. Traditional risk factors like age, hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, and physical activity before RT will also be evaluated throughout the study.

Acute and Long-term Cardiovascular Toxicity After Modern Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer