Question

More people are living longer after a diagnosis of cancer than at any time in the past. This is the result, in part, of new therapies and strategies for treating cancer. But some of the same treatments that help people survive cancer may also damage the heart and lead to cardiovascular problems, including hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia, and heart failure.

Please discuss the cardiotoxicity of anticancer medications.

at least 150 words

Answer 1

Ans- anticancerous drugs leads to various cardiovascular disorder and diseases as these drugs are composed of various such agent which increase the toxicity in heart and affect the functioning of the heart. The toxicity may vary depending on the drugs used , it may be acute , subacute or chronic. The symptoms includes arrhythmias, pericarditis or myocarditis etc. These affect the contractivity of the ventricles.

The drugs initiate the uncoupling of the electron Transport chain which lead to production of reactive oxygen which ultimately reduce the synthesis of ATP and it overall leads to the cardiac apoptosis.

The cumulative doses are considered as the strongest indicator of the cardiotoxicity. If the dose increase then the cardiotoxicity also increase.