Cardio-oncology challenges and perspectives

Cardio-oncology is an emerging interdisciplinary medical field that focuses on the monitoring and management of cardiovascular adverse effects of cancer treatments. One of the main challenges in this field is that many modern anticancer therapies, although effective in fighting tumors, can have significant cardiac side effects. These include cardiotoxicity induced by certain chemotherapeutic agents, impairment of ventricular function by tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapies, and increased risk of long-term cardiovascular disease after radiation therapy. In addition, cancer patients may already be at an increased cardiovascular risk due to lifestyle factors and existing comorbidities, further complicating their management. Prospectively, cardio-oncology aims to develop personalized assessment and intervention protocols that balance the efficacy of cancer treatment with the minimization of cardiac side effects. Close collaboration between oncologists and cardiologists, along with ongoing research in this area, may lead to the discovery of new biomarkers for the prediction of cardiotoxicity and the development of innovative prevention and treatment strategies. Thus, cardio-oncology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and the long-term survival of cancer patients.