VIDEO: Biomarkers needed to predict cardiovascular risk on aromatase inhibitor therapy

SAN ANTONIO — Better biomarkers are needed to predict cardiovascular risk among postmenopausal women with breast cancer on aromatase inhibitor therapy, Anne H. Blaes, MD, MS, associate professor in hematology and oncology at University of Minnesota and a HemOnc Today Editorial Board member, told HemOnc Today at San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Blaes and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study in 2014 and 2015 to determine whether women prescribed aromatase inhibitors would exhibit decreased endothelial function, a predictor of cardiovascular disease.

Postmenopausal women with breast cancer treated with aromatase inhibitors demonstrated reduced endothelial function compared with healthy controls. The risk for endothelial dysfunction appeared independent of duration of aromatase inhibitor use.

Blaes indicated additional research must be conducted to confirm the findings, as well as to evaluate risk in women with a prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.

“I believe we need better biomarkers to try to look at this risk in our clinical trials,” Blaes said. “Most of [the trials] that have been done so far actually look at end events, such as myocardial infarction. Our study suggests that there are precursors we are seeing when we look at women who have a diagnosis of breast cancer and are on aromatase inhibitors.” – by Kristie L. Kahl

Reference:

Blaes AH, et al. Abstract S5-07. Presented at: San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; Dec. 6-10, 2016; San Antonio, Texas.

Disclosure: The study was funded by a grant from NIH and a Masonic Scholars Award. Blaes reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the abstract for a list of all other researchers’ relevant financial disclosures.