Cardiotoxicity of Targeted Therapies: Imaging of Heart Does Matter

Molecular targeted therapies are characterized by blocking essential biochemical pathways or mutant proteins that are required for cancer cell growth and survival. Targeted cancer therapeutics are amongst the major treatment options for cancer today. These treatments are more selective for cancer cells and improve the quality of life for cancer patients undergoing therapy. Nevertheless, cardiotoxicity is a frequent side effect in targeted therapies, frequently described as myocardial dysfunction and heart failure. Cardiotoxicity includes also any subsequent functional or structural heart injury, with a possible accelerated development of cardiovascular diseases. Early identification of patients at risk for cardiotoxicity from cancer target therapies and the early diagnosis of CV complications related to cancer treatments are crucial. Anamnesis and risk stratification are the first steps of the diagnostic process to detect myocardial toxicity. Electrocardiography, cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac imaging modalities (echocardiography, CMR, PET, conventional imaging, and cardiac CT) are essential for a cardiotoxicity screening.