Over the past decades an increasing number of women have been identified with hereditary BC, related to mutations in one of the two BRCA genes. The cumulative risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers by age 70 is 57–65% for breast and 39% for ovarian cancer and in BRCA2 carriers 45–49% and 10–18% respectively [13]. It has been suggested that BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are at increased risk of CVD compared to the general population [14, 15]. The exact mechanisms have not been elucidated yet, however the intrinsic risk of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation, exposure to preventive risk reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) before 40–45 years of age, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may add to a higher CVD risk [16]. In BRCA1/2-knockout mice, a higher susceptibility towards doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity has been reported [17]. However, a prospective study in 39 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers compared to 42 sporadic BC patients did not show an increased risk of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers [18].

Radiation therapy has been reported to increase the longterm risk of death due to CVD, even after 20 years of follow-up [19]. This risk is especially present for left-sided BC patients as with older radiation techniques part of the heart might be included in the irradiated volumes. In an older Swedish cohort of BC patients it was found that women treated with radiation therapy for left-sided BC had more ischemic heart disease (IHD) than women treated for right-sided BC, especially in the mid-left anterior descending artery and diagonal branches [20]. In a population based case-control study absolute radiation risks for ischemic heart disease (IHD) were greater in women with preexisting CVD risk factors than in those without [21]. The increased risk for coronary events started within the first 5 years after radiotherapy and continued for three decades thereafter. It is unknown yet to which extent radiation therapy induces coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Current smoking increases the sensitivity of myocardial cells to the ionizing effects of radiation therapy, enhancing the risk for fibrosis and IHD [7]. The use of breath-hold techniques for left-sided BC patients is currently more often applied to reduce the individual heart dose of radiation [22, 23]. This technique may also be protective in right-sided BC patients who need loco-regional treatment (including the internal mammary lymph nodes) [24].

The cardiotoxic effects of anti-neoplastic agents can be divided into irreversible cardiomyocyte loss (type I) and reversible (type II) myocardial damage [25]. Type I is caused by anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin and epirubicin, and leads to cardiomyocyte apoptosis and necrosis. The harmful effects are cumulative and dose-dependent, with an interindividual range in toxic threshold depending on age (>65 years), renal failure, specific genetic polymorphisms, presence of hypertension, previous radiotherapy and combined use of type II agents [12, 26]. Subclinical LV deterioration occurs in 10–50% of treated patients, with a mean decline of 10% in LV function when compared to pre-treatment values, especially in the first year after treatment [27, 28]. This early asymptomatic loss of LV function can progress over time (years) to symptomatic heart failure (HF), which is most frequently seen in elderly women above 65 years of age. Of note is that subclinical HF may remain undiagnosed (for years), whereas symptoms of tiredness and dyspnea at effort are attributed to previous BC and ageing.

Trastuzumab is a monoclonal antibody indicated in >20% of BC patients who are positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and in women with metastatic BC. The use of trastuzumab has increased over the past 15 years and is associated with an absolute 14% higher incidence rate for HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or cardiomyopathy over 3 years of follow-up [29]. Although still debated, its cardiotoxic effects on LV function are assumed to be reversible (type II) and not related to cumulative dose but to the number of treatment sessions (see patient case) [30, 31]. Determinants of cardiotoxicity with trastuzumab are concomitant or prior treatment with anthracyclines, higher age, and the presence of hypertension. Trastuzumab cardiotoxicity usually manifests early during treatment [31]. In BC-trials, the incidence of symptomatic HF in trastuzumab-treated patients was 2–4% and the incidence of cardiac dysfunction was 3–19% [32–34]. In most BC registries treatment with trastuzumab is (temporarily) interrupted when ejection fraction (EF) falls below 45% [34]. Although not proven yet, early administration of HF drugs, such as ACE and ARBs, is likely to limit LV deterioration [28]. Currently, novel anti-HER2 targeted therapies are on the market (pertuzumab, lapatinib), which are potentially safer for the myocardium but less well investigated [35].

The use of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) inhibitors, such as bevacizumab for metastatic BC has increased over the past years. Nearly all patients who are treated with VEGF signaling inhibitors have an increase in blood pressure, often within 1 week of treatment [36]. The overall incidence of hypertension is reported to be 20–25% [37]. In a low percentage of patients (1–2%) signs if LV dysfunction and HF are described [38]. Given the high prevalence of hypertension in the ageing female population, adequate monitoring and management of blood pressure is needed when anti-VEGF agents are administered.

Endocrine therapy with the selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) tamoxifen (TAM) has been used for over decades and has a very low CVD risk [39, 40]. It is approved as adjuvant therapy and palliative therapy for hormone receptor positive primary and metastatic BC. In patients at increased thrombotic and CVD risk, tamoxifen may increase the occurrence of VTE and stroke [41]. In a meta-analysis it was recently found that aromatase inhibitors (AI) (exemestane, anastrozole, letrozole) are superior to TAM as adjuvant hormonal therapy for postmenopausal ER-positive BC [42]. However, AI’s are associated with increased risk of developing CVD especially with longer treatment durations [43, 44]. Conflicting data have been reported on adverse effects of AI’s on lipid profiles, which may add to a higher CVD risk [45].

The first step to identify patients at increased risk for cardiotoxicity during BC therapy is to assess their baseline CVD risk (see Table 7.1) [12]. It remains to be determined however, which determinants are most important to predict future cardiotoxicity. Whereas BC treatment has evolved into highly patient-tailored treatment strategies, the concurrent use of cardiac evaluation tools that can accurately assess both cardiac function and structure is presently lacking in the cardiac monitoring of BC patients with the use of routine echocardiography or radionuclide angiography. It may be more appropriate to use new ultrasound techniques with 3D possibilities, strain imaging and cardiac magnetic resonance (MRI), which are safe for the patients and reveal more earlier signs of LV damage [46–48]. Cardiac MRI is complementary to echocardiography and allows for unique and non-invasive insights into myocardial structure such as the tissue relaxation properties and the presence of diffuse fibrosis [49]. In Table 7.2 the currently available diagnostic tools are described.