The Cardio-protective Effect of Fat-Soluble Vitamins on Anti-cancer Drug Induced Cardiotoxicity

Anti-tumor medications like chemotherapies fall into the class of drugs referred to as anthracyclines. These anthracyclines, while powerful and effective in dealing with tumor growth have a degenerative effect on the cardiovascular system. Many cancer patients suffer from cardiomyopathy years after treatment with these drugs have been halted. However, an overwhelming number of patients still succumb to heart disease after surviving their initial bouts with cancer. An overwhelming amount of peer-reviewed research has looked into the use of fat-soluble vitamins specifically D and E as possible protectors of the heart in patients being treated with anthracycline. Vitamin D and E have been shown to have a significant statistical effect on many biomarkers that are affected by anthracycline cardiotoxicity. Both fat-soluble vitamins show a potential significant clinical effect that merits a further investigation in order to understand the mechanisms and pathways responsible for anthracycline mediated cardiotoxicity and possible routes to cardio protection.