Clonal Hematopoiesis in Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Emerging evidence suggests a dynamic relationship exists between cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is common among cancer survivors; however, it also may increase the risk of developing cancer. The underlying factors driving this connection remain poorly understood. Aging, chronic inflammation, and perturbed immune signaling are shared hallmarks of cancer and CVD. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH), the age-related accumulation of somatic mutations in hematopoietic cells leading to cells with a growth advantage, is associated with immune dysregulation in elderly people. Growing evidence suggests that CH is a risk factor for CVD. Although the link between CH and hematological cancer is well established, its relationship to solid organ cancers is far less understood. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the evidence linking CH with solid organ malignancies and explores its role as a shared risk factor for the development of both CVD and cancer. Furthermore, it discusses the potential mechanisms by which CH may contribute to CVD among cancer survivors.