[Troponin I and B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) as biomarkers for the prediction of cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer treated with adjuvant anthracyclines and trastuzumab]. / Troponina I e Peptide Natriuretico Cerebrale (BNP) come biomarcatori predittivi di cardiotossicità nelle pazienti affette da carcinoma della mammella in terapia adiuvante con antracicline e trastuzumab.

Adjuvant trastuzumab with chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor positive (HER2+) breast cancer and improves the outcome of patients with early breast cancer. However, it is potentially cardiotoxic and there are no validated methods of early detection of cardiotoxicity from trastuzumab following anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Currently, changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are assessed but this approach has limited sensitivity and specificity. Early identification of patients at risk for cardiotoxic effects is a primary goal for both cardiologists and oncologists. Plasma markers such as b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP - an index of elevated filling pressure) and troponin I (TnI - an index of cardiomyocyte damage) may be used to identify the risk of developing cardiac dysfunction during treatment. In this review, we discuss if TnI and/or BNP could be used to help the prevention or treatment of cardiac dysfunction at the earliest possible time.

Unusual endotracheal and breast metastasis from renal clear cell carcinoma: a case report.

We report a case of a woman affected by a metastatic renal clear cell carcinoma who showed unusual metastasis into the trachea and in the right breast 17 years and 21 years after nephrectomy respectively. Two endotracheal metastasis were identified during rigid bronchoscophy and were treated with endotracheal electro-surgery. Solitary metastasis in the right breast was identified by a mammography that revealed a dense mass of 1.5 cm at lower outer quadrant and she underwent to a right breast quadrantectomy. Histological examination showed a clear cell renal carcinoma metastasis as for the trachea as for the breast mass.