Cardiotoxicity in cancer immunotherapy: from pathogenesis to prevention ? narrative review Review article

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Published: Jun 30, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24292/01.OR.151110925
Keywords:
immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy, cardiotoxicity, myocarditis, cardio-oncology, immune-related adverse events, management strategies

Main Article Content

Mateusz Mierniczek
St. Raphael?s Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Czerwona Góra
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9571-7859
Daniel Narożniak
St. Raphael?s Voivodeship Specialist Hospital in Czerwona Góra
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4331-1807
Maria Mierniczek
Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce, Poland
https://orcid.org/0009-0000-9108-1552
Wiktoria Mika
Provincial Clinical Hospital No. 2 St. Jadwiga the Queen in Rzeszów
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6853-5342
Anna Rodzeń
4th Military Clinical Hospital, Wroclaw, Poland
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-1658-8224
Jan Wojdal
Copernicus Memorial Hospital
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-5289-0842
Katarzyna Ciepłucha
Rydygier Specialist Hospital in Krakow
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-2530-689X
Aleksandra Wądołowska
University Clinical Hospital No. 1 of the Medical University of Lodz
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6855-0660
Barbara Przybył
University Clinical Hospital No. 2 of the Medical University of Lodz
https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4342-5468

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, improve survival but carry a risk of severe cardiotoxicity. Myocarditis is the most dangerous complication with high mortality, and its mechanism involves T-cell auto-aggression or cytokine storms. Risk management requires vigilance, monitoring of cardiac biomarkers, and imaging studies. Prompt treatment with high-dose glucocorticosteroids is crucial. Collaboration within cardio-oncology teams is fundamental for safety, and further research must focus on precise risk stratification to protect patients while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.

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How to Cite
1.
Mierniczek M, Narożniak D, Mierniczek M, Mika W, Rodzeń A, Wojdal J, Ciepłucha K, Wądołowska A, Przybył B. Cardiotoxicity in cancer immunotherapy: from pathogenesis to prevention ? narrative review. OncoReview [Internet]. 2025Jun.30 [cited 2025Nov.21];15(1(57):3-11. Available from: https://journalsmededu.pl/index.php/OncoReview/article/view/3308
Issue
Vol 15 No 1(57) (2025)
Section
CARDIO-ONCOLOGY
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Copyright: © Medical Education sp. z o.o. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.

Address reprint requests to: Medical Education, Marcin Kuźma (marcin.kuzma@mededu.pl)

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