Acute coronary syndromes in patients with cancer: Recent advances

Abstract

Coronary artery disease is presently one of the leading causes of death among cancer survivors. Due to the number of cancer survivors projected to reach 26 million by 2040 managing coronary disease in this population presents a unique challenge. Cancer patients face an elevated risk of atherosclerotic disease due to shared cardiovascular risk factors and the cardiotoxic effects of cancer therapies, predisposing them to acute coronary syndromes. Challenges in treating cancer patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes include atypical presentations, obscured symptoms, and the impact of cancer-related processes on traditional biomarkers. This review explores the complexities of acute coronary syndrome management in cancer patients, addressing challenges involved, recent advances in percutaneous strategies, pharmacology, and considerations for these high-risk individuals. This review discusses a balance between invasive vs. medical strategy, technical advances in multimodal imaging, intravascular physiology, intracoronary imaging, and evolving stent options, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in this complex patient population.