Data released in a large multi-center study provides a view into the effectiveness of two drugs used to prevent heart problems resulting from breast cancer treatment.

The data was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 67th Annual Scientific Session, one of the most influential medical symposia on heart-related topics, held in Orlando, Florida.

"This data is the crucial first step towards establishing a new standard of care to reduce the risk of cardiotoxicity for patients undergoing treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer," said study chair Dr. Maya Guglin of the University of Kentucky's Gill Heart and Vascular Institute.

Chemotherapy drug Herceptin was first approved by the FDA in 1998 to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer called HER2-positive. Its stunning success at reducing cancer recurrence and improving survival came at a cost, however: one in four women develop potentially dangerous heart problems. Physicians began suspending Herceptin treatment or reducing the frequency of treatment if a patient's ejection fraction (a measure of the heart's ability to pump blood) dropped below 50 percent.

The issue was concerning enough to The American Heart Association that they recently released a statement warning doctors and patients to consider carefully the risks when developing a treatment plan for HER2-positive patients.

The multi-arm, placebo-controlled study chaired by Guglin explored whether two classes of drugs — ACE inhibitors and beta blockers — preserved a patient's cardiac function during chemotherapy. The study looked at patients who were treated with Herceptin alone as well as patients who were treated with Herceptin after first receiving another chemotherapy drug known as doxorubicin.

"Herceptin is arguably the most effective treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer," Guglin said. "These patients are already anxious about their future. We don't want to avoid this exceptionally effective treatment just because it might cause damage to the heart."

The data showed that ACE inhibitors and beta blockers did not help preserve ejection fraction in patients receiving Herceptin alone. However, there was a significant reduction in cardiotoxicity for patients on beta blockers or ACE inhibitors who received doxorubicin before Herceptin: cardiac event rates in the placebo group were 47 percent, compared to ACE inhibitors (37 percent) and beta blockers (31 percent).

"The data clearly demonstrated that for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer taking both doxorubicin and Herceptin, adding either an ACE inhibitor or a beta blocker to the treatment regimen can significantly offset the chance of heart problems," Guglin said.

Funded by the National Cancer Institute, this study is the largest trial on this topic to date, with 167 sites enrolling 468 patients. While many patients with breast cancer fear death from the disease itself, research shows that heart disease is more likely to kill them. Studying how to prevent such negative side effects is an important contributor to optimal patient care.

"In the past few decades, we've made huge strides in successfully treating cancers that used to be very deadly for patients," said Dr. Mark Evers, director of the NCI-designated UK Markey Cancer Center. "But it's important to also think about the patient's future and to help them maintain the best possible quality of life. This study provides valuable information for oncologists who are treating patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, and may help shape the new standard of treatment for this cancer in years to come."

According to Guglin, this study offers some clarity about treatment options, but more questions need to be asked and answered before scientists consider a new standard of care. 

"For example, should we always treat with both doxorubicin and Herceptin? Should we re-evaluate our minimum standards for heart function? What if the patient's EF is less than 50 percent but is asymptomatic? And should the patient's wishes carry more weight in the equation?" Guglin said.

"All of these questions require careful consideration, but this part is clear: giving an ACE inhibitor or beta blocker to patients taking doxyrubicin and Herceptin for HER2-positive breast cancer will significantly reduce the risk of cardiotoxic side effects."

The American College of Cardiology is a 52,000-member medical society that is the professional home for the entire cardiovascular care team. The mission of the College is to transform cardiovascular care and to improve heart health. The ACC leads in the formation of health policy, standards and guidelines. The College operates national registries to measure and improve care, offers cardiovascular accreditation to hospitals and institutions, provides professional medical education, disseminates cardiovascular research and bestows credentials upon cardiovascular specialists who meet stringent qualifications. For more, visit acc.org.

The Gill Heart and Vascular Institute at the University of Kentucky is at the forefront in the battle against heart disease and stroke in Kentucky and is nationally recognized as a leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease. The Gill Heart & Vascular Institute was founded in 1997 with a gift of $5 million from philanthropists Linda and Jack Gill to establish a comprehensive academic program in cardiovascular medicine and science. Gill’s comprehensive approach to heart and vascular health begins with promoting cardiovascular wellness and extends to treating life-threatening complications with the newest therapies and devices.