The dyslipidemic effect of cytostatics in the treatment of early breast cancer as a serious risk factor of cardiovascular diseases.

Backround: The development of highly effective anti-cancer therapies over the past several decades has dramatically changed the situation of patients with malignant tumor disease, who currently achieve a high rate of cure in the early stages of the disease. Despite tremendous progress, chemotherapy remains the primary treatment modality for early breast cancer. However, chemotherapy-related complications have a major impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. Almost 80% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are over 50 years of age and already have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as age, family history, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and elevated body mass index. Most breast cancer patients do not die and, in line with the general population, cardiovascular disease remains the most common cause of death. Clinical research, extensive retrospective analyzes and prospective works describe the dyslipidemic effect of cytostatics, which may predispose to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. The administration of neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy based on anthracyclines and taxanes can lead to an increase in total cholesterol, triacylglycerides, LDL cholesterol and a decrease in HDL cholesterol. Abnormally high concentrations of lipids in the blood represent one of the main risk factors for the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. The works also indicate a correlation between serum lipid levels and the rate of achieving pathological complete remission after the administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Dyslipidemia is associated with a worse prognosis in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: The aim of the thesis is to point out the dyslipidemic effects of cytostatics and the risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in breast cancer patients who have undergone adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer. The identification of cardiovascular risk factors at the beginning of oncological treatment, the monitoring of the lipid spectrum during the treatment and the timely intervention of dyslipidemia treatment escape attention at present.