A complex approach to continuous cardiac monitoring of neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Observational study

Background. Recent advances in targeted chemotherapy have led to improved outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC) and reduced overall mortality. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is used to reduce the degree of invasion and dissemination in the body in cancer patients. The traditional approach of assessing serial echocardiography detects significant changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) and provides limited predictive sensitivity and specificity for continuous cardiac monitoring. Algorithms for assessing the state of the cardiovascular system, proposed in the world literature, include the assessment of LV EF, tissue Doppler sonography, and the determination of serum biomarker levels. However, the use of this approach in clinical routine practice is limited due to low cost-effectiveness and awareness of physicians. Aim. To conduct a comprehensive assessment systolic and diastolic function, deformity, myocardial tissue harmonics and levels of cardiac biomarkers as a tool for predicting and stratifying the risk of CAH. Materials and methods. The prospective study included 72 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of BC during NAC, who underwent a comprehensive assessment of the cardiovascular system at the Bakulev National Medical Research Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, as a continuous cardiac monitoring in the period from March 2021 to February 2022, the average age of all patients was 47.911.9 years, the stages of the tumor process varied between I and IV. Clinical research methods included the collection of clinical and anamnestic data and sequential analysis of echocardiographic parameters and the level of serum biomarkers. All patients underwent 2D and M-mode echocardiography, pulsed wave Doppler to determine the velocity of blood flow through the mitral valve and TD for the right and left ventricles in accordance with the recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiographers (ASE). LV systolic and diastolic function was assessed according to the ASE clinical guidelines. Peak longitudinal deformation of the LV and the left atrium in various projections was analyzed using the Qlab workstation (Philips Qlab, version 10.5, CMQ; Philips Healthcare, Bothell, Washington, USA). Serum levels of cardiac biomarkers such as brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and ST-2 protein (growth stimulating factor) were also analyzed. Fasting blood was used to determine the level of soluble ST-2 and NT-proBNP before NAC, at the intermediate and fin