Cardiac Toxicity of Thoracic Radiotherapy: Existing Evidence and Future Directions

• Published in: Journal of thoracic oncology Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 216 - 227
• Main Authors: Banfill, Kathryn, Giuliani, Meredith, Aznar, Marianne, Franks, Kevin, McWilliam, Alan, Schmitt, Matthias, Sun, Fei, Vozenin, Marie Catherine, Faivre Finn, Corinne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Cardiac toxicity; Cardio-oncology; Cardiotoxicity - etiology; Dose-volume; Heart; Humans; Lung; Lung cancer; Lung Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Radiotherapy; Radiotherapy - adverse effects; Radiotherapy Dosage; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted; State of the Art: Concise Review; Cardio-oncology; Radiotherapy; Dose-volume; Lung cancer; Cardiac toxicity
• ISSN: 1556-0864; 1556-1380; 1556-1380
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.11.002

The impact of radiotherapy on the heart has become an area of interest in recent years. Many different cardiac dose-volume constraints have been associated with cardiac toxicity and survival; however, no consistent constraint has been found. Many patients undergoing treatment for lung cancer have risk factors for cardiovascular disease or known cardiac comorbidities; however, there is little evidence on the effects of radiotherapy on the heart in these patients. We aim to provide a summary of the existing literature on cardiac toxicity of lung cancer radiotherapy, propose strategies to avoid and manage cardiac toxicity, and suggest avenues for future research.