Management of Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome and Cancer.

Cancer patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have significantly greater mortality compared with non-cancer patients. This risk is partly directly attributable to the malignancy; however these patients are frequently undertreated with respect to guideline recommended treatments for ACS due to higher bleeding risks from anemia and thrombocytopenia. Due to exclusion from large clinical trials, there is a paucity of data regarding how to best treat these complex and high-risk patients. PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the literature and identify risk factors among cancer patients associated with poor outcomes, pathophysiology of chemotherapy and radiation therapy contributing to accelerated coronary artery disease and ACS, and data regarding outcomes with medical therapy and invasive management. RECENT FINDINGS: Despite an elevated bleeding risk, many cancer patients may benefit from ACC/AHA guideline-directed management for ACS including aspirin, P2Y12 inhibitor, statin, and beta-blocker therapies. Cancer patients with ACS are a uniquely vulnerable population who are often undertreated, and with improved cancer treatments, this population is expected to increase. These patients should be included in future randomized trials to better understand how to balance the complexities of increased bleeding and thrombosis risks during ACS.

Cardiac Outcomes in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer Exposed to Cardiotoxic Therapy: A Cross-sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies of cardiac disease among adult survivors of childhood cancer have generally relied on self-reported or registry-based data. OBJECTIVE: To systematically assess cardiac outcomes among survivors of childhood cancer. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. PATIENTS: 1853 adult survivors of childhood cancer, aged 18 years or older, who received cancer-related cardiotoxic therapy at least 10 years earlier. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline history and physical examination, fasting metabolic and lipid panels, echocardiography, electrocardiography, and 6-minute walk test. RESULTS: One half of the survivors (52.3%) were men with a median age of 8 years (range, 0 to 24 years) at cancer diagnosis and 31 years (range, 18 to 60 years) at evaluation. Cardiomyopathy was present in 7.4% survivors (newly identified at the time of evaluation in 4.7%), coronary artery disease in 3.8% (newly identified in 2.2%), valvular regurgitation or stenosis in 28.0% (newly identified in 24.8%), and conduction or rhythm abnormalities in 4.4% (newly identified in 1.4%). Nearly all survivors were asymptomatic. The prevalence of cardiac conditions increased with age at evaluation, ranging from 3% to 24% among survivors aged 30 to 39 years to 10% to 37% among those aged 40 years or older. In multivariable analysis, survivors exposed to anthracycline doses of 250 mg/m2 or more had greater odds of cardiomyopathy (odds ratio, 2.7 [95% CI, 1.1 to 6.9]) than those who were not exposed. Survivors exposed to heart radiation also had increased odds of cardiomyopathy (odds ratio, 1.9 [CI, 1.1 to 3.7]) compared with those who were not exposed. Radiation exposure greater than 1500 cGy with any anthracycline exposure conferred the greatest odds for valve findings. LIMITATIONS: Sixty-one percent of survivors exposed to anthracycline chemotherapy or cardiac-directed radiation participated. A comparison group and longitudinal assessments were not available. CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular screening identified considerable subclinical disease among adult survivors of childhood cancer. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: National Cancer Institute, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities.

The Utility of Point-of-Care Biomarkers to Detect Cardiotoxicity During Anthracycline Chemotherapy: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline chemotherapy is associated with an increased risk of developing heart failure (HF). The current standard for detecting HF or cardiotoxicity during chemotherapy involves episodic cardiac imaging typically at prescribed intervals and there are limited studies examining techniques beyond measuring left ventricular (LV) function. This study explores whether cardiac biomarkers troponin I (TnI) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) could be part of a screening strategy for early detection of the development of cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing anthracycline chemotherapy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients were enrolled from a single medical center. Cardiac biomarkers (TnI, BNP) were measured before and within 24 hours after completion of anthracycline administration for each cycle of therapy. Cardiac imaging was obtained at baseline and at completion of chemotherapy (commonly at 6 or 12 months) or based on clinical suspicion of a cardiac event. Of the enrolled 109 patients, 11 (10.1%) experienced cardiac events; all of these patients had at least 1 BNP value >100 pg/mL before the cardiac event. Significant reduction in LV ejection fraction as defined for cardiotoxicity occurred in only 3 of 10 patients (30%) with a cardiac event. CONCLUSIONS: The use of cardiac biomarkers, particularly BNP, may allow early detection of cardiotoxicity related to anthracycline chemotherapy.

Longitudinal Changes in Multiple Biomarkers Are Associated with Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Doxorubicin, Taxanes, and Trastuzumab.

BACKGROUND: Biomarkers may play an important role in identifying patients at risk for cancer therapy cardiotoxicity. Our objectives were to define the patterns of change in biomarkers with cancer therapy and their associations with cardiotoxicity. METHODS: In a multicenter cohort of 78 breast cancer patients undergoing doxorubicin and trastuzumab therapy, 8 biomarkers were evaluated at baseline and every 3 months over a maximum follow-up of 15 months. These biomarkers, hypothesized to be mechanistically relevant to cardiotoxicity, included high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15), myeloperoxidase (MPO), placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor-1 (sFlt-1), and galectin 3 (gal-3). We determined if biomarker increases were associated with cardiotoxicity at the same visit and the subsequent visit over the entire course of therapy. Cardiotoxicity was defined by the Cardiac Review and Evaluation Criteria; alternative definitions were also considered. RESULTS: Across the entire cohort, all biomarkers except NT-proBNP and gal-3 demonstrated increases by 3 months; these increases persisted for GDF-15, PlGF, and hs-cTnI at 15 months. Increases in MPO, PlGF, and GDF-15 were associated with cardiotoxicity at the same visit [MPO hazard ratio 1.38 (95% CI 1.10-1.71), P = 0.02; PlGF 3.78 (1.30-11.0), P = 0.047; GDF-15 1.71 (1.15-2.55), P = 0.01] and the subsequent visit. MPO was robust to alternative outcome definitions. CONCLUSIONS: Increases in MPO are associated with cardiotoxicity over the entire course of doxorubicin and trastuzumab therapy. Assessment with PlGF and GDF-15 may also be of value. These findings motivate validation studies in additional cohorts.

Role of temporal resolution in selection of the appropriate strain technique for evaluation of subclinical myocardial dysfunction.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of frame and volume rate on the concordance between two-dimensional speckle tracking strain (2DS) and three-dimensional speckle tracking strain (3DS), and between 2DS and triplane imaging of speckle tracking (Tri-P). METHODS: Global longitudinal strains (GLSs) derived from 2DS, 3DS, and Tri-P were compared among 142 prospectively recruited patients who underwent evaluation of subclinical left ventricle (LV) function. RESULTS: Feasibility to obtain GLS of 3DS was significantly higher than that of Tri-P (76% vs. 47%, P < 0.001). The correlation between 2DS and 3DS was only modest (r = 0.47) whereas that of 2DS and Tri-P was better (r = 0.67). The difference in frame/volume rate between two methods also affected their correlation. A volume rate between 34 and 50 volumes/sec had the highest correlation between 2DS and 3DS (r = 0.72). The correlation between 2DS and Tri-P was better with a difference in frame-rate ≤20 per second than with a difference >20 per second. Likewise, there was a better correlation between 2DS and 3DS when the difference between 2D frame rate and 3D volume rate was ≤40 per second, compared to when it was >40 per second. These associations differed from segment to segment and the apical segments had the highest correlation and the basal the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of each means of strain calculation showed important differences, with 2DS being the most attainable. Strain values were not interchangeable among 2DS, Tri-P, and 3DS. Importantly, poor correlations seemed to be driven by differences in acquisition rate. Currently, 2DS offers the most robust measurement of subclinical myocardial dysfunction.

Outcomes of Hospitalizations With Septic Shock Complicated by Types 1 and 2 Myocardial Infarction.

Septic shock is a life-threatening host response to infection and a significant contributor to cost burden in the United States. Furthermore, sepsis-related inflammation has been linked to myocardial infarction (MI). We sought to examine the association of type 1 and type 2 MI with outcomes in hospitalizations admitted with septic shock. The National Readmission Database 2018 was queried to identify hospitalizations with hospital discharge diagnoses of septic shock without MI, septic shock with type 1 MI, or septic shock with type 2 MI. Complex-sample multivariable logistic and linear regression models were used to determine the association of these conditions with clinical outcomes. Of 354,528 hospitalizations with septic shock, 11,519 had type 1 MI (3.2%) and 13,970 had type 2 MI (3.9%). Compared with septic shock without MI, type 1 MI was associated with higher mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.57 to 1.77), costs (adjusted parameter estimate $4,571, 95% CI 3,020 to 6,122), and discharge to facility (adjusted OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.17). In contrast, septic shock with type 2 MI was associated with similar mortality and discharge to nursing facility and higher costs (adjusted parameter estimate 1,798, 95% CI 549 to 3,047). Septic shock hospitalizations with type 1 MI had higher in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.60 to 1.90, p <0.001) compared with type 2 MI. In conclusion, type 1 MI is associated with higher mortality and resource utilization among septic shock hospitalizations. Furthermore, type 2 MI was associated with higher resource utilization.

Prevalence of abnormal echocardiographic findings in cancer patients: a retrospective evaluation of echocardiography for identifying cardiac abnormalities in cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is commonly used to assess cardiac morphology and function in cancer patients. The nature, distribution, and prevalence of significant echocardiographic abnormalities are unknown. We hypothesized that TTEs performed for cancer or cancer treatment indications, have a high prevalence of significant abnormalities (SA), including a large proportion of findings that may be overlooked by other imaging modalities. METHODS: All TTE studies performed in a tertiary cancer center over a six-month period, from January to June 2007, were reviewed. The TTEs were divided into studies performed for a cardiovascular indication (CV) and those done for a cancer-related indication (CA). Reports were classified as normal, mildly abnormal, and significantly abnormal (SA) based on findings. Abnormal findings' distributions were compared between indication groups. RESULTS: Three thousand nine hundred and twenty-four TTEs were performed and divided into either group CV (61.2%) or group CA (38.7%). The most common indication in the CV group was valvular diseases (29.9%). In the CA group, the majority of TTE were requested for evaluation during or after chemotherapy or radiation (94.7%). Around 41.9% of studies in group CV were classified as SA whereas 19.9% (P < 0.001) in the CA group were classified as such. The relative distributions of individual SA findings were compared between the indication groups and were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: One in five patients who had TTE studies for CA were found to have SA, and 81.5% of these may not have been found with other modalities. The TTE allows safe diagnosis of a wide range of abnormal findings that may be overlooked if alternative but less versatile modalities are used.

Newest echocardiographic techniques for the detection of cardiotoxicity and heart failure during chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity has become a significant public health issue. Left ventricular ejection fraction is routinely used to monitor cardiotoxicity but fails to detect subtle alterations in cardiac function. Improvements in the measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction, physical or pharmacologic stressors, and novel cardiac functional indices may be useful in the detection of cardiotoxicity. The improvements in the detection and therapy of cancer have led to the emergence of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity. New echocardiographic techniques may be useful in the detection of patients undergoing chemotherapy treatments who could benefit from alternative cancer treatments, therefore decreasing the incidence of cardiotoxicity.

Impact of Hormonal Therapies for Treatment of Hormone-Dependent Cancers (Breast and Prostate) on the Cardiovascular System: Effects and Modifications: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Cardiovascular disease and cancer are the leading causes of death in the United States, and hormone-dependent cancers (breast and prostate cancer) are the most common noncutaneous malignancies in women and men, respectively. The hormonal (endocrine-related) therapies that serve as a backbone for treatment of both cancers improve survival but also increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality among survivors. This consensus statement describes the risks associated with specific hormonal therapies used to treat breast and prostate cancer and provides an evidence-based approach to prevent and detect adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Areas of uncertainty are highlighted, including the cardiovascular effects of different durations of hormonal therapy, the cardiovascular risks associated with combinations of newer generations of more intensive hormonal treatments, and the specific cardiovascular risks that affect individuals of various races/ethnicities. Finally, there is an emphasis on the use of a multidisciplinary approach to the implementation of lifestyle and pharmacological strategies for management and risk reduction both during and after active treatment.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance characterisation of anthracycline cardiotoxicity in adults with normal left ventricular ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline therapy may lead to changes in cardiac structure and function not detectable by solely evaluating left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) would identify structural and functional myocardial abnormalities in anthracycline-treated cancer survivors with normal LVEF, compared to a matched control population. METHODS: Forty-five cancer survivors (56 ± 16 yrs., 60% female) with normal LVEF (59.5 ± 4.1%) were studied a median of 11 months (range 3-36) following administration of 237 ± 83 mg/m2 anthracycline, and compared with forty-five healthy control subjects of similar age and sex (53 ± 16 yrs., 60% female) with normal LVEF (60.8 ± 2.4%) using 1.5 T CMR. RESULTS: Significantly smaller indexed left ventricular mass (45.6 ± 8.7 vs 50.3 ± 10.1 g/m2, p = 0.02) and indexed myocardial cell volume (30.5 ± 5.7 vs 34.8 ± 7.2 ml/m2, p = 0.002) were evident in cancer survivors and the latter was inversely associated with cumulative anthracycline dose (r = -0.31, p = 0.02). Surrogate CMR markers of myocardial fibrosis were significantly increased in cancer survivors (native myocardial T1: 1021 ± 40 vs 996 ± 35 ms, p = 0.002; extracellular volume: 29.5 ± 4.5 vs 27.4 ± 2.3%, p = 0.006). CMR-derived feature-tracking global longitudinal strain (GLS) was significantly impaired in cancer survivors (2D GLS -18.3 ± 2.6 vs -20.0 ± 2.0%, p < 0.001; 3D GLS -14.5 ± 2.3 vs -16.4 ± 2.6%, p < 0.001). Parameters exhibited good to excellent (ICC = 0.86-0.98) inter- and intra-observer reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: Anthracycline-treated cancer survivors with normal LVEF have significant perturbations of LV mass, myocardial cell volume, native myocardial T1, ECV, CMR-derived 2D and 3D GLS, compared to controls, with good to excellent levels of inter- and intra-observer reproducibility.

Cardiovascular Family History Increases Risk for Late-Onset Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Childhood Cancer Survivors: A St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Report.

BACKGROUND: Survivors of childhood cancer have an increased risk of therapy-related cardiovascular disease. It is not known whether family history of cardiovascular disease further increases risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes among survivors. METHODS: Family history of cardiovascular disease was collected from 1,260 survivors [median age at diagnosis, 8 years (range, 0-23); age at last follow-up, 35 years (range, 18-66)] of childhood cancer in the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study. Multivariable risk models evaluated associations with cardiovascular disease (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 2-4 events) and cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: Among survivors exposed to chest-directed radiation and/or anthracycline chemotherapy (n = 824), 7% reported a first-degree family history of heart failure, 19% myocardial infarction, 11% stroke, 26% atherosclerotic disease (myocardial infarction and/or stroke), 62% hypertension, and 31% diabetes mellitus. Eighteen percent of exposed survivors developed heart failure, 9% myocardial infarction, 3% stroke, 11% atherosclerotic disease, 30% hypertension, and 9% diabetes mellitus. Having a first-degree family history of atherosclerotic disease was independently associated with development of treatment-related heart failure [RR, 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.88; P = 0.04] among exposed survivors. Risk for hypertension was increased among exposed survivors with a first-degree family history of hypertension (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.26-1.92; P < 0.0001) or of any cardiovascular disease [myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.06-1.59; P = 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: Family history of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors independently increased risk of heart failure and hypertension among survivors of childhood cancer exposed to cardiotoxic therapies. IMPACT: These data show the importance of cardiovascular family history as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in survivors of childhood cancer.

Changes in Citric Acid Cycle and Nucleoside Metabolism Are Associated with Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity in Patients with Breast Cancer.

Anthracyclines and HER2-targeted antibodies are very effective for the treatment of breast cancer, but their use is limited by cardiotoxicity. In this nested case-control study, we assessed the role of intermediary metabolism in 38 women with breast cancer treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab. Using targeted mass spectrometry to measure 71 metabolites in the plasma, we identified changes in citric acid and aconitic acid that differentiated patients who developed cardiotoxicity from those who did not. In patients with cardiotoxicity, the magnitude of change in citric acid at three months correlated with the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and absolute LVEF at nine months. Patients with cardiotoxicity also demonstrated more pronounced changes in purine and pyrimidine metabolism. Early metabolic changes may therefore provide insight into the mechanisms associated with the development of chemotherapy-associated cardiotoxicity.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Cardiovascular Effects of Cancer Therapy: JACC CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review.

This paper aims to empower and inform cardio-oncologists by providing a practical guide to the clinical application of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) in the rapidly evolving field of cardio-oncology. Specifically, we describe how CMR can be used to assess the cardiovascular effects of cancer therapy. The CMR literature, relevant societal guidelines, indication-specific imaging protocols, and methods to overcome some of the challenges encountered in performing and accessing CMR are reviewed.

Added value of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in assessing cardiac masses.

Echocardiography is the most common noninvasive tool used in assessing cardiac masses. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography expands the diagnostic capabilities of cardiac ultrasound in assessing the location, composition, size, and relationship to other structures of cardiac masses. The improved characterization of the anatomy of the mass, in conjunction with the accurate calculation of the left ventricular ejection fraction, makes this new technology the imaging modality of choice in assessing cardiac masses.

Long term cardiovascular magnetic resonance phenotyping of anthracycline cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Anthracycline cardiomyopathy contributes to the morbidity and mortality of cancer survivors but long-term data are lacking. This study sought to describe the phenotype of long-term anthracycline cardiomyopathy, the prevalence of myocardial fibrosis and its association with cardiac remodeling, systolic function and clinical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: We undertook contrast-enhanced CMR in 81 cancer survivors at median 5 years after anthracycline (mean dose 279 SD 89 mg/m2). Participants were aged 55 SD 14 years; 68% were female. Mean LVEF was impaired (49 SD 12%), driven by a pathological increase in iLVESV (47 SD 23 ml/m2). 19% of participants exhibited LGE, which was associated with significant adverse left ventricular remodeling and reduced systolic function (iLVEDV: 102 SD 34 vs 83 SD 21 ml/m2, p = 0.03; iLVESV 61 SD 32 vs 43 SD 20 ml/m2, p = 0.03; LVEF: 43 SD 11 vs 50 SD 12%, p = 0.03). In subgroup analysis of 36 patients, 36% had elevated native T1 measurements, which was associated with significant adverse left ventricular remodeling (iLVEDV: 97 SD 22 vs 74 SD 19 ml/m2, p = 0.002; iLVESV: 56 SD 22 vs 35 SD 15 ml/m2, p = 0.005), reduced systolic function (LVEF 44 SD 13 vs 55 SD 9%, p = 0.01), and hospitalizations for heart failure (38% vs 9%, p = 0.03). Absolute native T1 measurements correlated significantly with iLVEDV (p ≤ 0.001, R2 0.33), iLVESV (p < 0.001, R2 0.36), LVEF (p < 0.001, R2 0.35), LAVi (p = 0.04, R2 0.12) and MAPSE (p = 0.02, R2 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term anthracycline cardiomyopathy is characterized by pathologically increased iLVESV. Both LGE and elevated native T1 measurements were associated with significant adverse cardiac remodeling and reduced systolic function, and the latter with heart failure hospitalizations.

Heart failure associated with sunitinib malate: a multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Sunitinib malate is a novel multitargeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor with established efficacy in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor. This report describes the development of heart failure in cancer patients who received this novel agent. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center during a 1-year period on patients who received sunitinib and developed heart failure. RESULTS: During 2006, 6 of 224 (2.7%) patients who received sunitinib developed heart failure (HF) that resulted in substantial morbidity and, in some cases, mortality. Symptomatic heart failure occurred soon after initiation of sunitinib (mean onset 22 days after initiation), was associated with decline in cardiac function and elevations in blood pressure, and was not completely reversible in most patients, even after termination of sunitinib therapy. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggested that sunitinib-associated heart failure may represent a potentially serious toxicity and underscore the need for careful monitoring of cardiac function and aggressive control of hypertension in these patients. Studies to elucidate potential mechanisms of heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction resulting from treatment with sunitinib are necessary to develop strategies for prevention and treatment of this complication.

Multi-Modality Imaging in the Assessment of Cardiovascular Toxicity in the Cancer Patient.

Cancer therapy can be associated with both cardiac and vascular toxicity. Advanced multi-modality imaging can be used to stratify patient risk, identify cardiovascular injury during and after therapy, and forecast recovery. Echocardiography continues to be the mainstay in the evaluation of cardiac toxicity. Particularly, echocardiography-based strain imaging is useful for risk stratification of patients at baseline, and detection of subclinical left ventricle (LV) dysfunction during therapy. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) serves a complementary role in the patient with poor echocardiographic or equilibrium radionuclide angiographic image quality or in situations where a more accurate and precise LV ejection fraction measurement is needed to inform decisions regarding discontinuation of chemotherapy. New CMR techniques like T1 and T2 mapping and positron emission tomography (PET) imaging will help us better understand the structural, pathological, and metabolic myocardial changes associated with ventricular dysfunction or release of serum biomarkers. CMR may also be helpful in the evaluation of vascular complications of cancer therapy. Stress echocardiography, stress CMR, computed tomography, and PET are excellent imaging options in the evaluation of ischemia in patients receiving therapies that could potentially cause vasospasm or accelerated atherosclerosis.

Contemporary Role of Echocardiography for Clinical Decision Making in Patients During and After Cancer Therapy.

Early recognition of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) provides an opportunity to mitigate cardiac injury and risk of developing late cardiac events. Echocardiography serves as the cornerstone in the detection and surveillance of CTRCD in patients during and after cancer therapy. Guidelines from professional societies and regulatory agencies have been published on approaches to surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment of CTRCD, although adoption as standard of care remains limited given the lack of evidence on the prognostic value of asymptomatic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the oncology population. The frequency of cardiac monitoring and the appropriateness of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-recommended cardiac monitoring schedule in all patients receiving trastuzumab for breast cancer has been challenged. Interruption versus continuation of oncological therapy in the setting of asymptomatic LV dysfunction remains a clinical conundrum given the uncertain balance of the risk of cardiac dysfunction and benefit of oncology efficacy. Despite their limitations, echocardiographic measures of LV function continue to play a pivotal role in clinical decision making, with global longitudinal strain emerging as a promising tool in informing and facilitating the selection of cancer treatment and optimizing cardiovascular outcomes. This review highlights the key recommendations of the existing guidelines and discusses recent developments in cardio-oncology imaging practices with the aim of providing practical guidance on the role and use of echocardiography in challenging clinical cases in cardio-oncology.