The Importance of Multidisciplinary Cardio-Oncology Team in the Breast Cancer Treatment with Anthracyclines

The anthracyclines, represented by Doxorubicin, Epirubicin or Idarubicin, are paramount in Oncology due to their antitumoral efficacy in a multitude of solid cancers, making them essential in breast cancer treatment. The biggest disadvantage of anthracyclines, cardiotoxicity, happens as a direct effect of the oncologic treatment on the anatomy and the physiology of the heart and acts also as an element which advances pre-existent cardiovascular disease⁽²⁾.

We are presenting the case of a 51-year-old lady, clinically, with imagistic and biopsy diagnosis of breast cancer cT3N3M0, negative HR, HER 2neu-3+, that was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy consisting of anthracyclines and biological therapy with Herceptin (Trastuzumab – monoclonal humanized IgG1 antibodies, administered in HER2 + breast cancer).

By cumulating the current clinical data with the therapeutic challenges of the anthracyclines (antitumoral effect vs cardiotoxicity), we are trying to encourage the multidisciplinary approach (oncology and cardiology), in order to reach the best therapeutic decision for each patient.