Assessment of Cardiotoxicity in Hormone Positive Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Aromatase Inhibitors

Abstract

ltimately, aromatase inhibitors (A.I) represents the standard effective endocrine treatment in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. In hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients, AIs are considered as first-choice treatment in postmenopausal women. Comorbid conditions, including CVD, are emerging as competing main causes of death as women with breast cancer continue to live longer, and the potential effects of adjuvant therapies on cardiovascular risk has become an increasingly important consideration for clinicians. With increasing age, the baseline risk of morbidity and mortality from other illnesses rises. As such, strong data on the toxicity of extended adjuvant therapy are desirable for proper appropriately counseling of patients and provide optimal recommendations on continuation especially patients with preexisting comorbidities or risk factors. Major studies shown a significant DFS and OS advantage for different schedules of A.I treatment, including upfront AIs or sequential use of tamoxifen and AIs, have been shown to improve disease-free survival and overall survival compared with tamoxifen alone. The benefit of AIs on breast cancer recurrence and mortality far outweigh the risks of adverse events, and this should be taken into account when considering treatment options for patients. Nevertheless, cardiovascular events reported in clinical trials with AIs rais