Key result
Multichamber strain assessment detected subclinical dysfunction earlier than conventional LVEF and GLS, identifying right ventricular involvement and predicting cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction.
Why the study?
LVEF and GLS remain recommended for cardiotoxicity surveillance during cancer therapy but change late and overlook injury to other cardiac chambers.
Does multichamber strain assessment (LA, RA, RV) improve the detection of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction compared to conventional LVEF and GLS in patients receiving cardiotoxic oncological treatment?
Systematic Review
Does multichamber strain assessment (LA, RA, RV) improve the detection of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction compared to conventional LVEF and GLS in patients receiving cardiotoxic oncological treatment?
Multichamber strain assessment, particularly LA reservoir strain and RV free-wall longitudinal strain, provides earlier and more sensitive detection of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction than conventional LVEF monitoring.
Background Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) remain recommended for cardiotoxicity surveillance during cancer therapy, yet it changes late and overlooks injury to the other cardiac chambers. Purpose We systematically reviewed echocardiographic and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) studies that assessed left atrial (LA), right atrial (RA), and right ventricular (RV) function in patients exposed to potentially cardiotoxic oncological treatment. Methods PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for English‐language studies published between January 2020 and March 2026, following the PRISMA recommendations. Across tumor types—lymphoma, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, breast, gastrointestinal, and melanoma—and across anthracycline‐, trastuzumab‐, fluoropyrimidine‐, and immune checkpoint inhibitor–based regimens, strain imaging detected subclinical dysfunction that conventional measures missed. Results LA reservoir strain declined early and frequently preceded any fall in LVEF, outperforming volumetric LA indices for the detection and prediction of cancer therapy–related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). RV deformation parameters, particularly free‐wall longitudinal strain and three‐dimensional RV ejection fraction, identified RV involvement that was sometimes independent of LV cardiotoxicity and was associated with adverse cardiac events. Data on the RA remain sparse but point in the same direction. Conclusion Multichamber strain assessment adds sensitivity to LVEF and GLS‐based monitoring; standardization of acquisition, reference values, and reporting is needed before it can enter routine cardio‐oncology surveillance.
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Żak et al. (2026) conducted a systematic review in Cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction. Multichamber strain assessment vs. Conventional measures (LVEF and GLS) was evaluated on Detection and prediction of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Multichamber strain assessment detected subclinical dysfunction earlier than conventional LVEF and GLS, identifying right ventricular involvement and predicting cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction.
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