The potential role of aerobic exercise to modulate cardiotoxicity of molecularly targeted cancer therapeutics

Oncologist. 2013;18(2):221-31. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-0226. Epub 2013 Jan 18.

Abstract

Molecularly targeted therapeutics (MTT) are the future of cancer systemic therapy. They have already moved from palliative therapy for advanced solid malignancies into the setting of curative-intent treatment for early-stage disease. Cardiotoxicity is a frequent and potentially serious adverse complication of some targeted therapies, leading to a broad range of potentially life-threatening complications, therapy discontinuation, and poor quality of life. Low-cost pleiotropic interventions are therefore urgently required to effectively prevent and/or treat MTT-induced cardiotoxicity. Aerobic exercise therapy has the unique capacity to modulate, without toxicity, multiple gene expression pathways in several organ systems, including a plethora of cardiac-specific molecular and cell-signaling pathways implicated in MTT-induced cardiac toxicity. In this review, we examine the molecular signaling of antiangiogenic and HER2-directed therapies that may underpin cardiac toxicity and the hypothesized molecular mechanisms underlying the cardioprotective properties of aerobic exercise. It is hoped that this knowledge can be used to maximize the benefits of small molecule inhibitors, while minimizing cardiac damage in patients with solid malignancies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Heart Diseases / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / administration & dosage
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2