Preliminary pre-clinical studies on the side effects of breast cancer treatment

Abstract

Purpose: Technological advancement in the treatment of cancer together with early detection and diagnosis have considerably improved the survival of breast cancer patients. On the other hand, the potential of patients developing side effects from cancer treatment are not negligible. Despite the progress that has been made in terms of early diagnosis, therapy, and survival, including improvements in the chemotherapeutic agents, radiation and molecular targeted therapies, cardiotoxicity of cancer therapy is still cause for concern. Radiation therapy for breast cancer is associated with increased risk of heart disease and myocardial infarction. Furthermore, the association of radiation therapy to chemotherapy is an important aspect to be considered in the development of cardiac disease, as this could play an additional role as a risk factor. Besides the heart effect, other side effects can be observed in the bone, ovary, uteri, and other organs. This paper aims to review the recent literature to present the current understanding of side effects associated with breast cancer treatment. The focus is on recent preclinical studies that have assessed potential changes in different organs that may be injured after breast cancer treatment, both due to both radiation and chemotherapy agents.

Conclusion: Radiation-induced heart disease is one important side effect that must be considered during the treatment planning and patient follow-up. The cardiac damage can be potentialized when chemotherapy is associated to radiotherapy, and the literature findings indicate that heart fibrosis plays an important role at the radio-chemotherapy induced cardiac damage. Literature findings also showed important side effects at the bone, that can lead to ospeoporosis, due to the decrease of calcium, after radio or chemotherapy treatments. This decrease could be explained by the ovarian failure observed at rats after chemotherapy treatment. It is of great importance to acknowledge the complications originating from the treatment, so that new strategies can be developed. In this way, it will be possible to minimize side effects and improve the patients’ quality of life.

Keywords:

• Cardiotoxicity
• breast cancer
• radiotherapy
• chemotherapy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Camila Salata

Camila Salata, DSc, is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil and a physicist at the department of medical and research application, Brazilian Nuclear Energy Authority (CNEN), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.

Carlos E. deAlmeida

Carlos E. deAlmeida, Ph.D., is senior researcher at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.

Samara C. Ferreira-Machado

Samara C. Ferreira-Machado, D.Sc, is an Adjunct Professor (Docent) at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil and at the Department of General Biology, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niteroi/RJ, Brazil.

Regina C. Barroso

Regina C. Barroso is an Associate Professor (Docent) at the Physics Department, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.

Liebert P. Nogueira

Liebert P. Nogueira is a researcher at the Oral Research Laboratory (ORL), Institute of Clinical Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Andrea Mantuano

Andrea Mantuano is a researcher at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil and an Adjunct Professor (Docent) at the Physics Department, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.

Arissa Pickler

Arissa Pickler is a researcher at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ.

Carla L. Mota

Carla L. Mota is a researcher at the Department of Radiological Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil and an Adjunct Professor (Docent) at the Physics Department, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.

Cherley B. V. de Andrade

Cherley B. V. de Andrade is a microscopy technician at the Department of Histology and Embryology, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ,) Rio de Janeiro/RJ, Brazil.