Cancer Treatment & Heart Disease: New Link Found
- Cancer patients undergoing therapies that boost the body's immune system to fight tumors may face an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study.
- The study focused on immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of drugs known for their cancer-fighting abilities.
- Previous research indicated that roughly 10% of individuals with atherosclerosis experience a heart attack or stroke following cancer treatment.
New research reveals a surprising link between cancer treatment and increased risks of heart attack and stroke. This study, led by NYU Langone Health, unveils how immune checkpoint inhibitors, crucial for fighting cancer, can inadvertently trigger inflammation in blood vessels, becoming a key factor contributing to cardiovascular events. The study pinpoints how these cancer therapies might interfere with immune regulation, and indicates potential effects exacerbated by conditions like diabetes. News Directory 3 is keeping a close watch on this advancement that emphasizes the need for careful monitoring of cancer patients. Discover what’s next …
Cancer therapy’s Role in Heightening Heart Attack and Stroke Risk
Cancer patients undergoing therapies that boost the body’s immune system to fight tumors may face an elevated risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a new study. The research, centered at NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, suggests the cancer treatment interferes with immune regulation within major heart blood vessels.
The study focused on immune checkpoint inhibitors, a class of drugs known for their cancer-fighting abilities. These inhibitors work by releasing the “brake pedals” on immune cells,enabling them to attack tumors more effectively. However, this process can also trigger excessive inflammation, potentially damaging organs like the heart and brain.
Previous research indicated that roughly 10% of individuals with atherosclerosis experience a heart attack or stroke following cancer treatment. The new study sought to clarify the mechanisms behind this increased risk. Researchers found that immune checkpoints targeted by cancer therapies also exist in arterial immune cells, establishing a link between checkpoint inhibitors and cardiovascular events.
Chiara Giannarelli, MD, PhD, co-senior author and associate professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, said the findings offer insight into how cancer drugs can trigger immune responses in arteries, increasing heart disease risk. Giannarelli advised that cancer patients and their doctors should monitor for potential heart problems after treatment.
The study, published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, involved analyzing genetic activity in immune cells from plaque samples of 50 men and women undergoing surgery for atherosclerosis.
Researchers also examined how Type 2 diabetes, a risk factor for both cancer and heart disease, might amplify the adverse effects of checkpoint inhibitors. They assessed immune checkpoint activity in arterial tissue from diabetic patients and healthy volunteers.The results indicated that diabetes patients exhibited less communication between checkpoints, potentially leading to increased inflammation.
Further experiments showed that immune checkpoint inhibitors coudl hinder efforts to combat atherosclerosis. While low-fat diets typically reduce plaque buildup and inflammation by boosting communication between immune checkpoints, cancer therapy might counteract these benefits by blocking the same checkpoints.
Kathryn Moore, PhD, co-senior author and professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasized the interconnectedness of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. moore said a better understanding of these interactions will allow experts to develop strategies to minimize unintended health consequences from treatments.
Moore cautioned that the study did not directly evaluate immune checkpoint behavior in cancer patients, a topic for future research.
What’s next
Future studies will directly assess immune checkpoint behavior in cancer patients to further refine understanding and mitigation strategies.