Anti-cancer therapy induces endothelial dysfunction in the human microcirculation that is prevented by VEGF-B overexpression

The present study is the first to demonstrate longitudinal declines in microvascular endothelial function in breast cancer patients undergoing anti-cancer therapy. Microvascular dysfunction persists for several months after treatment, which may have implications for elevated cardiovascular risk in cancer patients. Therapies with a high risk of cardiotoxicity (doxorubicin and trastuzumab) induce vasomotor impairments in healthy arterioles ex vivo. These findings highlight microvascular endothelial dysfunction as a consequence of anti-cancer therapy which may contribute to treatment-induced cardiotoxicity. The microcirculation represents a potential therapeutic target for intervention to prevent or predict adverse cardiovascular outcomes in breast cancer patients.