Cardio-oncology: rationale, aims and future directions

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cardiovascular comorbidity among cancer patients is a growing clinical problem with the dramatic improvements in cancer survival. Cardio-oncology has developed as a new medical field dedicated to addressing the complex issues faced by patients who have both cancer and cardiovascular disease. This article explains to the reader what cardio-oncology services provide and the nature of cardiovascular problems caused by the growing array of modern cancer therapies. RECENT FINDINGS: The list of potentially cardiotoxic cancer therapeutic agents is ever growing and dedicated cardio-oncology experts are required to tackle cardiovascular complications with minimal delay to necessary cancer therapy. Cardio-oncology services originated in academic centres but are now being set up around the world in all hospitals and clinics that provide care to cancer patients. Cardio-oncology plays an increasingly active role at every stage of cancer therapy including baseline risk assessment pretreatment, surveillance and prevention during treatment, response to acute complications and assessment in survivors post cardiotoxic treatments. New treatment strategies exist to optimize cancer treatment so it can be completed safely. SUMMARY: In the present review, we explore the rationale, aims and roles of cardio-oncology, as well as future directions, which will certainly require multidisciplinary international collaboration.