Abstract
Aim: Adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for left-sided breast cancer has a negative impact on cardiac health. The concurrent use of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) during RT was found to increase the anticancer efficacy of radiation in pre-clinical models. We evaluated whether the acute effects of RT on cardiac functions are augmented by the concurrent use of AIs. Patients and Methods: Sixty patients with early-stage left-sided breast cancer underwent a 2D echocardiography, electrocardiogram and cardiac biomarker measurements before and after adjuvant breast RT. Data were analyzed in two groups according to AI use. Results: We observed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in right ventricular systolic function during RT in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE). TAPSE decreased by 3.0 mm [95% confidence interval (CI)=1.9-4.1 mm] in the AI group and 1.4 mm (95% CI=0.3-2.4 mm) in the non-AI group. In addition, left ventricular diastolic function decreased among patients using AI, as the mitral inflow E-wave decreased 5.8 cm/s (95% CI=1.8-9.7 cm/s) (p=0.006). Conclusion: The concurrent use of AI during RT for left-sided breast cancer led to a more pronounced change on right ventricular systolic function and left ventricular diastolic functions compared to RT alone.
- Received November 11, 2014.
- Revision received November 30, 2014.
- Accepted December 4, 2014.
- Copyright© 2015 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved