Title : Cancer and cardiovascular diseases: Common pathogenesis mechanisms and risk factors
Abstract:
Oncological diseases are the second most common cause of death among adults worldwide after cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In clinical practice, comorbidity of cancers and CVD is increasingly registered, which certainly increases the risk of death. The main cause of death in patients with breast, prostate or colorectal cancer is heart disease. Patients with cancer have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications compared to individuals without them. On the other hand, individuals with CVD, especially with heart failure, have a risk of developing cancer.
Some pathogenetic pathways in the development of cancer and CVD are common. Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the genesis of cancer and CVD. The chemotherapy drugs increase the inflammatory process, aggravating existing CVD or contributing to their development. There are published data in the literature on the presence of common genetic mutations between cancer and CVD. Screening may be appropriate in certain categories of survivors, taking into account risk factors and the nature of treatment. It should be emphasized that screening for cancer among individuals with CVD, in particular with heart failure, requires further study. Against the background of measures to prevent relapses of cancer, it is necessary to develop comprehensive measures aimed at secondary prevention of the comorbid condition.
Preventive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies should be part of multidisciplinary cardio-oncological care aimed at improving overall outcomes.
