Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) entails lowering serum testosterone levels to castrate levels and forms a cornerstone of the management of hormone-sensitive advanced prostate cancer; however, the benefit of ADT is partially offset by its detrimental metabolic and cardiovascular adverse effects. ADT decreases insulin sensitivity while promoting dyslipidemia and sarcopenic obesity, which leads to an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and potentially mortality. The risk seems to be highest in elderly patients who have had recent cardiovascular events before starting ADT. It is prudent to engage in an individualized risk-benefit discussion and develop a cohesive multidisciplinary management plan to medically optimize and closely observe these patients before and during treatment with ADT.Careful history taking and physical examination to diagnose, treat, and optimize active CV disease with guideline-directed therapy before starting androgen-deprivation therapyConsider metformin for diabetes, ACEIs for HTN, aspirin for vascular health, and statins for hyperlipidemia in eligible patientsSmoking cessation, lifestyle modification, exercise, and stress reduction must be emphasized in all patients Awareness to seek immediate medical attention for new or worsening CV symptoms Abbreviations: ACEI, angiotension-converting enzyme inhibitor; CV, cardiovascular; HTN, hypertension.

Background: Radiation therapy (RT)-induced cardiotoxicity is among the concerning sequelae of breast cancer (BCA) treatment, particularly in HER2-positive breast cancer patients who receive anthracyclines and trastuzumab-based therapy. The aim of this study was to assess for early RT-induced changes in echocardiographic and circulating biomarkers of left ventricular (LV) function and evaluate their association with radiation dose to the heart among patients with HER2positive BCA treated with contemporary RT.Methods: A total of 47 women with HER2-positive BCA who were treated with an anthracycline, trastuzumab, and RT to the breast and/or chest wall +/− regional lymph nodes were included in this study. Two-dimensional echocardiography with speckle tracking imaging was performed at baseline (pre-chemotherapy), prior to and after RT (pre-RT and post-RT), and 6

This letter to the editor describes myocarditis screening among patients undergoing combination immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, in light of the consensus document from the Checkpoint Inhibitor Safety Working Group.

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Treatment-related cardiotoxicity remains a significant concern for breast cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment and extends into the survivorship period, with adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes further compounded by the presence of pre-existing CV disease or traditional CV risk factors. Awareness of the cardiotoxicity profiles of contemporary breast cancer treatments and optimization of CV risk factors are crucial in mitigating cardiotoxicity risk. Assessment of patientand treatment-specific risk with appropriate CV surveillance is another key component of care. Mismatch between baseline cardiotoxicity risk and intensity of cardiotoxicity surveillance can lead to unnecessary downstream testing, increased healthcare expenditure, and interruption or discontinuation of potentially life-saving treatment. Efforts to identify early imaging and/or circulating biomarkers of cardiotoxicity and develop effective management strategies are needed to optimize the CV and cancer outcomes of breast cancer survivors.

Correspondence 676.e1 Supplemental Figure 2 Selection of studies for the systematic review. Search Terms: transesophageal echocardiogram + complications; bleeding/hematemesis/melena + esophageal varices; transesophageal echocardiogram + bleeding; transesophageal echocardiogram + esophageal varices.

BACKGROUND Guidelines recommend left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessments every 3 months for cardiotoxicity monitoring during human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeted therapy. Evidence in support of this practice is lacking. OBJECTIVES This study examines the association between adherence to cardiotoxicity surveillance guidelines and heart failure (HF) in HER2-positive breast cancer patients. METHODS A case-control study was performed in 53 patients who developed cardiotoxicity during HER2 targeted therapy, and 159 controls matched by age, anthracycline exposure, and year of treatment. Cardiotoxicity was defined as HF (New York Heart Association functional class III or IV) or cardiac death. Adherence to cardiotoxicity surveillance guidelines was ascertained from the beginning of HER2 targeted therapy to the diagnosis date of HF for cases or the corresponding timepoint for matched controls. Conditional logistic regression was used for case-control comparisons. RESULTS Eighty-one percent of cases and controls were previously treated with an anthracycline. Adherence to cardiotoxicity surveillance guidelines during the entire observation period or during the first 6 months of treatment was not associated with lower risk of HF. An LVEF <55% at any surveillance timepoint was identified in 49% of cases and 3% of controls, and an LVEF <55% during the final surveillance timepoint before developing HF was identified in 54% of cases and 4% of controls. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, LVEF <55% at any timepoint or during the final surveillance timepoint (odds ratio: 27.0; 95% confidence interval: 9.3 to 78.8 and odds ratio: 25.6; 95% confidence interval: 7.3 to 90.3, respectively) was associated with HF. CONCLUSIONS Patients with LVEF <55% on routine surveillance during HER2 targeted therapy are at increased risk for HF. Additional studies to define their optimal management are warranted.

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