Early Echocardiography and ECG Changes Following Radiotherapy in Patients with Stage II–III HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Treated with Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy with or without Trastuzumab-Based Therapy

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity from radiotherapy and anti-cancer therapies have been reported in patients with breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the early echocardiography and ECG changes following radiotherapy in 68 patients ages 30–78 years with stages II–III HER2-positive breast cancer treated with anthracycline-based chemotherapy with or without trastuzumab-based therapy from 2015 to 2021. MATERIAL/METHODS: We analyzed data of 68 breast cancer patients aged 30–78 years, predominantly in AJCC stages II–III (61) and HER2-positive (58), treated and monitored from 2015 to 2021. Cardiac function was assessed using echo- and electrocardiography. We employed univariate logistic models to gauge associations between pre-existing cardiac conditions, treatment modalities, and changes in cardiac function. RESULTS: A decrease in the left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) by >5% was associated with heart doses >49.3 Gy and with maximum and average doses to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) exceeding 46.9 Gy and 32.7 Gy, respectively. An EF drop of ≥10% was correlated with anti-HER2 therapy, pre-existing ECG changes, and the onset of conditions in the left ventricle, major vessels, and valves. Conditions were exacerbated in patients with prior echocardiographic abnormalities, while some emerged concurrent with the EF decline. CONCLUSIONS: This research emphasizes the importance of personalized heart monitoring and care for breast cancer patients undergoing multimodal therapies. Significant and potentially irreversible EF declines can result from radiation and anti-HER2 treatments.