Etiology and Management of Dyslipidemia in Patients With Cancer.

Patients with cancer are now living longer than ever before due to the growth and expansion of highly effective antineoplastic therapies. Many of these patients face additional health challenges, of which cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading contributor to morbidity and mortality. CVD and cancer share common biological mechanisms and risk factors, including lipid abnormalities. A better understanding of the relationship between lipid metabolism and cancer can reveal strategies for cancer prevention and CVD risk reduction. Several anticancer treatments adversely affect lipid levels, increasing triglycerides and/or LDL-cholesterol. The traditional CVD risk assessment tools do not include cancer-specific parameters and may underestimate the true long-term CVD risk in this patient population. Statins are the mainstay of therapy in both primary and secondary CVD prevention. The role of non-statin therapies, including ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors, bempedoic acid and icosapent ethyl in the management of lipid disorders in patients with cancer remains largely unknown. A contemporary cancer patient needs a personalized comprehensive cardiovascular assessment, management of lipid abnormalities, and prevention of late CVD to achieve optimal overall outcomes.

Etiology and management of hypertension in patients with cancer.

The pathophysiology of hypertension and cancer are intertwined. Hypertension has been associated with an increased likelihood of developing certain cancers and with higher cancer-related mortality. Moreover, various anticancer therapies have been reported to cause new elevated blood pressure or worsening of previously well-controlled hypertension. Hypertension is a well-established risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is rapidly emerging as one of the leading causes of death and disability in patients with cancer. In this review, we discuss the relationship between hypertension and cancer and the role that hypertension plays in exacerbating the risk for anthracycline- and trastuzumab-induced cardiomyopathy. We then review the common cancer therapies that have been associated with the development of hypertension, including VEGF inhibitors, small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, alkylating agents, glucocorticoids, and immunosuppressive agents. When available, we present strategies for blood pressure management for each drug class. Finally, we discuss blood pressure goals for patients with cancer and strategies for assessment and management. It is of utmost importance to maintain optimal blood pressure control in the oncologic patient to reduce the risk of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity and to decrease the risk of long-term cardiovascular disease.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with left ventricular assist device.

BACKGROUND: A left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is used to support patients with end-stage heart failure. AIMS: To examine the role of comorbidities and complications in predicting in-hospital mortality since the introduction of continuous flow (CF)-LVAD. METHODS: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried from 2010 to 2014 using International Classification of Disease-9 code for LVAD among patients 18 years or older. The sample consisted of 2,359 patients (mean age = 55 ± 13.7 years, 76.8% men, 59.3% Caucasian). RESULTS: Comparative analysis revealed mortality did not differ from 2010 to 2014 (p = 0.653). Increases in comorbidities of atrial fibrillation, acute kidney injury, mechanical ventilation, body mass index ≥ 25, cerebrovascular disease, and mild liver disease were evidenced over the 5-year period (p values ≤ 0.049). Multivariate analysis showed that significant predictors of mortality were comorbid hemodialysis (AOR = 7.62, 95% CI [4.78, 12.27]), cerebrovascular disease (AOR = 5.38, 95% CI [3.49, 8.26]), mechanical ventilation (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI [2.84, 5.18]), mild liver disease (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI [1.38, 2.76]), and acute kidney injury (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.16, 2.28]). Predictive complications included disseminated intravascular coagulation (AOR = 6.41, 95% CI [2.79, 6.84]), sepsis (AOR = 4.37, 95% CI [2.79, 6.84]), septic shock (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI [2.11, 7.59]), and gastrointestinal bleed (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.11, 2.93]). CONCLUSIONS: CF-LVADs have not reduced mortality, possibly due to utilization in patients with comorbid conditions. Future trials are necessary for improved patient selection and reduced post-procedural complications.

The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on clinical outcomes in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and midrange ejection fraction: a post hoc subgroup analysis from the PEACE trial.

BACKGROUND:: There have been significant advances in the treatment of patients with cardiomyopathy with reduced ejection fraction (EF < 40%). However, there is a dearth of information in the treatment of patients with cardiomyopathy and midrange EF (40-50%). Current guidelines state to treat these patients similarly to patients with cardiomyopathy and preserved EF. Data from the Prevention of Events with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition (PEACE) trial were used to elucidate whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve clinical outcomes in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and midrange EF. METHODS:: A post hoc subgroup analysis of the PEACE trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of ACE inhibitors in a subgroup of patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and midrange EF (40-50%). A Chi-square test and a Student's t-test were used to examine and compare the binary and continuous variables of baseline characteristics and outcomes between experimental and comparison groups. RESULTS:: We studied a subgroup of patients from the PEACE trial with ischemic cardiomyopathy and midrange EF ( n = 2512 of 8290 total patients). Patients were assigned to either the interventional group ( n = 1247) or the placebo group ( n = 1265). There were no significant differences in baseline demographic and health characteristics between the two groups. During a total of 7 years (mean 4.7 years) of follow up, the risk of composite outcomes [all-cause mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke; relative risk (RR) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.98; p = 0.03] and all-cause mortality (RR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-0.99; p = 0.03) was reduced in patients treated with trandolapril. CONCLUSION:: This study revealed the benefit of ACE inhibitors among patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and midrange EF.

Azathioprine-induced pancytopenia with normal TPMT activity presenting with HSV oral ulcers.

A 65-year-old man with treatment-resistant psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) presented with herpes simplex virus (HSV) oral ulcers and a recent 15 lb weight loss due to reduced consumption. Five weeks previously, his methotrexate was tapered and he had begun taking azathioprine. The patient's thiopurine S-methyltransferase (TPMT) activity level was normal prior to starting azathioprine. He was found to have pancytopenia with normal folate levels and azathioprine was discontinued. His pancytopenia worsened, with a nadir 8 days after stopping azathioprine, before returning to normal levels. His oral ulcers improved and he was able to tolerate solid food. This case illustrates that decreased TPMT activity is not the only risk factor for pancytopenia as an adverse reaction to azathioprine. Furthermore, HSV stomatitis may be the presenting symptom of pancytopenia. The timeline of improvement in cell counts illustrated in this patient has implications for the management of suspected azathioprine-induced pancytopenia.

The promising role of nivolumab in renal cell cancers.

The therapeutic efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors across numerous tumor types has resulted in approval for neoplasms such as melanoma and lung cancer. Nivolumab is a fully humanized IgG4 antibody that inhibits immune checkpoint between programmed death 1 (PD-1) on T cells and PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) and ligand 2 (PD-L2) on immune and cancer cells. Motzer and Colleagues published the findings of Nivolumab versus everolimus in advanced kidney cancer in the November issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. This trial showed that nivolumab resulted in better median overall survival of 25 months compared to everolimus at 19.6 months, with a hazard ratio for death at 0.73, meeting pre-specified criterion for superiority in favor of nivolumab. These findings mark the defining beneficial role of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in metastatic kidney cancer.