Mechanism behind life-threatening cancer drug side-effect revealed

New research has found immune changes in cancer patients that could help identify which patients are most at risk of dangerous heart complications from cancer drugs, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors.

- 

The study was led by Assistant Professor Pilar Martin, Head of the Regulatory Molecules of Inflammation Lab at the Spanish National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) and group leader at CIBER-CV.

She explained, "Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized cancer treatment, but they can also damage the hearts of some patients. In this study, we monitored how levels of immune cells, which are known to be involved in the development of heart diseases, change after treatment.

"We were surprised to see an early and rapid loss of protective immune cells, called regulatory T cells, after cancer patients started treatment. This suggests a window of vulnerability early in treatment." Assistant Professor Martin continued.

The new research is being presented at European Cardio-Oncology 2025, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology.