Cancer therapy: Changes in the cardiovascular system possible
In the CAR-T-Zell-Therapie It is a form of immunotherapy that targets certain cancers is used. This is intended to direct the body’s own defense or immune system against the tumor cells again. Experts now report that this treatment method damage heart function can.
The CAR-T cell therapy is a modern and innovative cancer treatment that can currently be used for certain blood or lymph gland cancers, explains the German Cancer Society at the “ONKO Internetportal“. This treatment can also cause changes in the cardiovascular system.
Major advances in oncological therapies
As in a current Message of the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen, oncological therapies have made great progress in recent years.
One of these new forms of treatment uses special T cells that specifically target tumor antigens, the so-called (CAR) T cells. These cells trigger a targeted immune response that helps the body recognize and fight cancer cells.
However, like other cancer therapies, the treatment can cause unwanted side effects.
Researchers from the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen and the University Medicine Essen have now taken a closer look at the changes that CAR T cell cancer therapy can cause in the cardiovascular system and their results in the journal “European Heart Journal” released.
Effects on the cardiovascular system
According to the experts, one of the possible side effects is a systemic inflammatory reaction, in which messenger substances are increasingly released throughout the body. This can cause mild flu-like symptoms, but can also lead to serious complications such as multiple organ failure.
“Until now it was unclear to what extent this inflammatory reaction also affects the cardiovascular system”, explains Prof. Dr. Tienush Rassaf, Director of the Department of Cardiology and Angiology at Essen University Medicine.
The research team has now been able to show that the released neurotransmitters often cause an increased heart rate and low blood pressure, but also ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrhythmia.
“These symptoms also occur with other, comparable inflammatory reactions”, says Prof. Rassaf. However, the scientists have also observed serious complications.
Reduced blood flow in the heart tissue, vascular occlusions and heart failure occur during CAR-T cell therapy, especially in pre-existing patients. CAR-T cell therapy is currently approved for some blood cancers, but is also being tested for solid tumors.
Overview of unwanted side effects
According to Prof. Dr. Matthias Totzeck, Senior Physician Head of Oncological Cardiology in the Clinic for Cardiology and Angiology, the work is intended to help physicians, especially with preexisting patients “You can also keep an eye on changes in heart function and initiate appropriate treatments at an early stage”.
The current publication provides an overview of the current CAR T cell therapies and possible undesirable side effects. The authors focus on cardiovascular symptoms, summarize the current knowledge on the underlying pathomechanisms and explain clinical characteristics.
They also provide recommendations on how CAR-T cell therapy should be appropriately monitored by cardiologists. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Swell:
- Medical faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen: Side effects of CAR-T cell cancer therapy: damage to heart function, (accessed: March 15, 2022), Medical faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen
- Matthias Totzeck, Lars Michel, Yi Lin, Joerg Herrmann, Tienush Rassaf: Cardiotoxicity from chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy for advanced malignancies; in: European Heart Journal, (veröffentlicht: 08.03.2022), European Heart Journal
- German Cancer Society: Questions and answers on CAR T cell therapy, (accessed: March 15, 2022), ONKO Internetportal
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.