Cardiotoxicity with adjuvant trastuzumab use in breast cancer: A single institution’s experience

Abstract

Trastuzumab is associated with significant cardiotoxicity. Asymptomatic and symptomatic cardiotoxicity and toxicity seem to be dose-dependent in an adjuvant setting. At the end of therapy, more frequent than usual monitoring of cardiac function is suggested to prevent this toxicity.

Trastuzumab-Related Cardiotoxic Effects in Taiwanese Women

“…The Japan Breast Cancer Research Group (JBCRG) reported that most of grade 3 or 4 cardiotoxic effects, defined by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, 13 occurred within a year of trastuzumab initiation; the 3-year cumulative incidence was 0.54% (11 cases) in 2024 patients with early breast cancer across 56 institutions. 14 Single-center reports from Saudi Arabia, 15 Singapore 16 and China 17 showed that the overall percentages of LVEF reduction ranged from 11.2% to 39.1%. Disappointingly, these studies lacked comparison groups or had small sample sizes.…”