Rare incidence of congestive heart failure in gastrointestinal stromal tumor and other sarcoma patients receiving imatinib mesylate.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2010

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The authors sought to determine the incidence and severity of cardiovascular toxicity caused by imatinib mesylate in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and other sarcoma patients, and to explore cardiotoxicity caused by imatinib mesylate using cell culture and in vitro models.

METHODS: To determine the incidence and significance of serious cardiac adverse events in GIST and other sarcoma patients receiving imatinib mesylate, the authors performed a retrospective analysis of 219 consecutive patients treated with imatinib mesylate. In vitro studies of imatinib mesylate on cultured cardiomyocytes and biochemical studies of cardiac lysates from mice treated with imatinib mesylate were performed to define the potential cardiotoxic effects of imatinib mesylate.

RESULTS: Grade 3 or 4 potentially cardiotoxic adverse events (mostly edema or effusions) occurred in 8.2% of patients, were manageable with medical therapy, and infrequently required dose reduction or discontinuation of imatinib mesylate. Arrhythmias, acute coronary syndromes, or heart failure were uncommon, occurring in < 1% of treated patients. However, administration of imatinib in a mouse model system resulted in inhibition of activation of protein kinases that are known to be important in the cardiac stress response.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that imatinib is an uncommon cause of cardiotoxicity, and that the cardiovascular adverse events that occur are manageable when recognized and treated. Nevertheless, our preclinical findings suggest that imatinib remains a potential cardiotoxin. Furthermore, the cardiac consequences of long-term imatinib therapy remain unknown. We therefore recommend treatment of risk factors for cardiovascular disease in imatinib-treated patients in accord with the American Heart Association guidelines for the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Volume

116

Issue

1

First Page

184

Last Page

192

ISSN

0008-543X

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

19885836

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

Share

COinS