BLOC-II - Breast Cancer Long-term Outcomes on Cardiac Functioning

Research

Breast cancer (BC) treatment can improve survival rates but may also lead to long-term cardiac dysfunction, with general practitioners (GPs) uncertain about monitoring these survivors.

While past studies have focused on specific treatment types, our BLOC-I study identified an increased risk of mild cardiac dysfunction in BC survivors compared to controls. The next step, through the BLOC-II study, is to evaluate whether this dysfunction worsens over time and understand its underlying causes.

This study will examine women who received chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy for BC ≥ 11 years ago, comparing their heart health to women without a cancer history. By assessing systolic and diastolic dysfunction through echocardiography, we aim to identify whether BC survivors experience faster cardiac decline, and the lifestyle and clinical factors that influence this deterioration.

Relevance

How our research benefits to society

This study addresses an urgent gap in clinical practice, as there are no clear guidelines for monitoring cardiac health in long-term breast cancer survivors. Understanding the potential for continued cardiac dysfunction among BC survivors will enable GPs to better tailor care for these patients. The findings could lead to clearer recommendations on whether, when, and how GPs should monitor breast cancer survivors’ cardiovascular health.

By re-assessing cardiac function in breast cancer survivors and comparing it to a matched control group, we seek to determine whether BC survivors experience accelerated cardiac dysfunction. This will provide evidence for potential guidelines regarding cardiac monitoring in long-term BC survivors.
The department of Primary and Long-term Care of the UMCG is the academic lead, working closely together with the departments of Cardiology, Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy, and Epidemiology. Cardio Research B.V. in the UMCG performs all echocardiography measurements.
The results of the BLOC-II study will provide the evidence needed to refine care protocols for BC survivors, guiding GPs on when to initiate monitoring or referral for cardiac issues. It may also lead to recommendations on lifestyle interventions to mitigate cardiac deterioration in these patients.