Key Points
- To describe cases of cardiotoxicity linked to 5-fluorouracil administration during cancer therapy.
- Clinical review of three patients (N=3) with gastrointestinal malignancies treated with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
- Evaluation of cardiac events occurring during or immediately following 5-fluorouracil administration and subsequent management.
- Two patients experienced myocardial ischemia and one patient developed a ventricular arrhythmia during 5-fluorouracil therapy.
- All patients survived the acute cardiac events following cessation of 5-fluorouracil without drug rechallenge, and continuing radiotherapy achieved favorable tumor responses.
Structured PICO
PPopulation3 patients with gastrointestinal malignancies
IIntervention5-fluorouracil (5-FU) administration as part of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens
OOutcomeCardiotoxicity (myocardial ischemia or ventricular arrhythmia)safety
5-fluorouracil can cause potentially life-threatening cardiotoxicity, including myocardial ischemia and ventricular arrhythmias, highlighting the need for appropriate patient monitoring.