Open AccessExploratory Review of the Role of Statins, Colchicine, and Aspirin for the Prevention of Radiation‐Associated Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality
Author(s) -
Camara Planek Maria Isabel,
Silver Adam J.,
Volgman Annabelle Santos,
Okwuosa Tochukwu M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of the american heart association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.494
H-Index - 85
ISSN - 2047-9980
DOI - 10.1161/jaha.119.014668
Subject(s) - medicine , aspirin , disease , colchicine , atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease , statin , polypill , intensive care medicine , cardiology
C ardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality in cancer survivors. In particular, radiationassociated cardiovascular disease (RACVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors who have undergone radiation therapy (RT), particularly mediastinal radiation. Mediastinal RT has successfully reduced both the recurrence of many thoracic malignancies and mortality rates, particularly for breast cancer (the most common cancer in women), Hodgkin lymphoma, and some head and neck cancers, thus making up about a third of the current 17 million cancer survivors in the United States. However, survivors of mediastinal RT are at risk of developing RACVD, especially those treated for Hodgkin lymphoma and breast cancer before the early 2000s. In recent times, patients with lung cancer havemuch improved survival attributable to advances in cancer therapy, but the cardiovascular side effects of mediastinal radiation therapy loom large. The consequences of increased longevity include a wide range of complications from RACVD, many of which have been well studied.