Premium
Mechanisms underlying the cross‐talk between heart and cancer
Author(s) -
Brancaccio Mara,
Pirozzi Flora,
Hirsch Emilio,
Ghigo Alessandra
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jp276746
Subject(s) - heart failure , cancer , medicine , intensive care medicine , carcinogenesis , bioinformatics , biology
Abstract Cardiovascular diseases and cancer remain the leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the fact that these two conditions have long been considered as distinct clinical entities, recent epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that they should be contemplated and treated as co‐morbidities. Heart failure represents nowadays a well‐established complication of cancer, primarily as a consequence of the aggressive use of cardiotoxic anti‐cancer treatments. On the other hand, the provocative idea that heart failure can prime carcinogenesis has started to emerge, though the molecular basis is still to be fully elucidated. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the mechanisms underlying the bidirectional communication between the failing heart and the cancer. We will discuss and/or speculate on the role of molecular mediators released by either the tumour or the heart that can potentially link heart failure and cancer.