European Journal of Heart FailureVolume 19, Issue 1 p. 9-42 ESC Position PaperFree Access 2016 ESC Position Paper on cancer treatments and cardiovascular toxicity developed under the auspices of the ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines The Task Force for cancer treatments and cardiovascular toxicity of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain), Corresponding Author Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain) zamorano@secardiologia.es Corresponding authors: Jose Luis Zamorano, Head of Cardiology, University Hospital Ramon Y. Cajal, Carretera De Colmenar Km 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 336 85 15, E-mail: zamorano@secardiologia.es; Patrizio Lancellotti, University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Departments of Cardiology, Heart Valve Clinic, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium and Gruppo Villa Maria Care and Research, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Italy. Tel: +32 4 366 7194, Fax: +32 4 366 7195, E-mail: plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.beSearch for more papers by this authorPatrizio Lancellotti (Co-Chairperson) (Belgium), Corresponding Author Patrizio Lancellotti (Co-Chairperson) (Belgium) plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.be Corresponding authors: Jose Luis Zamorano, Head of Cardiology, University Hospital Ramon Y. Cajal, Carretera De Colmenar Km 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 336 85 15, E-mail: zamorano@secardiologia.es; Patrizio Lancellotti, University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Departments of Cardiology, Heart Valve Clinic, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium and Gruppo Villa Maria Care and Research, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Italy. Tel: +32 4 366 7194, Fax: +32 4 366 7195, E-mail: plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.beSearch for more papers by this authorDaniel Rodriguez Muñoz (Spain), Daniel Rodriguez Muñoz (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorVictor Aboyans (France), Victor Aboyans (France)Search for more papers by this authorRiccardo Asteggiano (Italy), Riccardo Asteggiano (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorMaurizio Galderisi (Italy), Maurizio Galderisi (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorGilbert Habib (France), Gilbert Habib (France)Search for more papers by this authorDaniel J. Lenihan (USA), Daniel J. Lenihan (USA) Representing the International CardiOncology Society (ICOS): Search for more papers by this authorGregory Y. H. Lip (UK), Gregory Y. H. Lip (UK)Search for more papers by this authorAlexander R. Lyon (UK), Alexander R. Lyon (UK)Search for more papers by this authorTeresa Lopez Fernandez (Spain), Teresa Lopez Fernandez (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorDania Mohty (France), Dania Mohty (France)Search for more papers by this authorMassimo F. Piepoli (Italy), Massimo F. Piepoli (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorJuan Tamargo (Spain), Juan Tamargo (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorAdam Torbicki (Poland), Adam Torbicki (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorThomas M. Suter (Switzerland), Thomas M. Suter (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorJose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain), Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorVictor Aboyans (France), Victor Aboyans (France)Search for more papers by this authorStephan Achenbach (Germany), Stephan Achenbach (Germany)Search for more papers by this authorStefan Agewall (Norway), Stefan Agewall (Norway)Search for more papers by this authorLina Badimon (Spain), Lina Badimon (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorGonzalo Barón-Esquivias (Spain), Gonzalo Barón-Esquivias (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorHelmut Baumgartner (Germany), Helmut Baumgartner (Germany)Search for more papers by this authorJeroen J. Bax (The Netherlands), Jeroen J. Bax (The Netherlands)Search for more papers by this authorHéctor Bueno (Spain), Héctor Bueno (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorScipione Carerj (Italy), Scipione Carerj (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorVeronica Dean (France), Veronica Dean (France)Search for more papers by this authorÇetin Erol (Turkey), Çetin Erol (Turkey)Search for more papers by this authorDonna Fitzsimons (UK), Donna Fitzsimons (UK)Search for more papers by this authorOliver Gaemperli (Switzerland), Oliver Gaemperli (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorPaulus Kirchhof (UK/Germany), Paulus Kirchhof (UK/Germany)Search for more papers by this authorPhilippe Kolh (Belgium), Philippe Kolh (Belgium)Search for more papers by this authorPatrizio Lancellotti (Belgium), Patrizio Lancellotti (Belgium)Search for more papers by this authorGregory Y. H. Lip (UK), Gregory Y. H. Lip (UK)Search for more papers by this authorPetros Nihoyannopoulos (UK), Petros Nihoyannopoulos (UK)Search for more papers by this authorMassimo F. Piepoli (Italy), Massimo F. Piepoli (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorPiotr Ponikowski (Poland), Piotr Ponikowski (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorMarco Roffi (Switzerland), Marco Roffi (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorAdam Torbicki (Poland), Adam Torbicki (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorAntónio Vaz Carneiro (Portugal), António Vaz Carneiro (Portugal)Search for more papers by this authorStephan Windecker (Switzerland), Stephan Windecker (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorAuthors/Task Force Members, Authors/Task Force MembersSearch for more papers by this authorESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG), ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG)Search for more papers by this authorDocument Reviewers, Document ReviewersSearch for more papers by this author Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain), Corresponding Author Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain) zamorano@secardiologia.es Corresponding authors: Jose Luis Zamorano, Head of Cardiology, University Hospital Ramon Y. Cajal, Carretera De Colmenar Km 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 336 85 15, E-mail: zamorano@secardiologia.es; Patrizio Lancellotti, University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Departments of Cardiology, Heart Valve Clinic, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium and Gruppo Villa Maria Care and Research, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Italy. Tel: +32 4 366 7194, Fax: +32 4 366 7195, E-mail: plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.beSearch for more papers by this authorPatrizio Lancellotti (Co-Chairperson) (Belgium), Corresponding Author Patrizio Lancellotti (Co-Chairperson) (Belgium) plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.be Corresponding authors: Jose Luis Zamorano, Head of Cardiology, University Hospital Ramon Y. Cajal, Carretera De Colmenar Km 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain. Tel: +34 91 336 85 15, E-mail: zamorano@secardiologia.es; Patrizio Lancellotti, University of Liège Hospital, GIGA Cardiovascular Sciences, Departments of Cardiology, Heart Valve Clinic, CHU Sart Tilman, Liège, Belgium and Gruppo Villa Maria Care and Research, Anthea Hospital, Bari, Italy. Tel: +32 4 366 7194, Fax: +32 4 366 7195, E-mail: plancellotti@chu.ulg.ac.beSearch for more papers by this authorDaniel Rodriguez Muñoz (Spain), Daniel Rodriguez Muñoz (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorVictor Aboyans (France), Victor Aboyans (France)Search for more papers by this authorRiccardo Asteggiano (Italy), Riccardo Asteggiano (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorMaurizio Galderisi (Italy), Maurizio Galderisi (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorGilbert Habib (France), Gilbert Habib (France)Search for more papers by this authorDaniel J. Lenihan (USA), Daniel J. Lenihan (USA) Representing the International CardiOncology Society (ICOS): Search for more papers by this authorGregory Y. H. Lip (UK), Gregory Y. H. Lip (UK)Search for more papers by this authorAlexander R. Lyon (UK), Alexander R. Lyon (UK)Search for more papers by this authorTeresa Lopez Fernandez (Spain), Teresa Lopez Fernandez (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorDania Mohty (France), Dania Mohty (France)Search for more papers by this authorMassimo F. Piepoli (Italy), Massimo F. Piepoli (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorJuan Tamargo (Spain), Juan Tamargo (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorAdam Torbicki (Poland), Adam Torbicki (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorThomas M. Suter (Switzerland), Thomas M. Suter (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorJose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain), Jose Luis Zamorano (Chairperson) (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorVictor Aboyans (France), Victor Aboyans (France)Search for more papers by this authorStephan Achenbach (Germany), Stephan Achenbach (Germany)Search for more papers by this authorStefan Agewall (Norway), Stefan Agewall (Norway)Search for more papers by this authorLina Badimon (Spain), Lina Badimon (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorGonzalo Barón-Esquivias (Spain), Gonzalo Barón-Esquivias (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorHelmut Baumgartner (Germany), Helmut Baumgartner (Germany)Search for more papers by this authorJeroen J. Bax (The Netherlands), Jeroen J. Bax (The Netherlands)Search for more papers by this authorHéctor Bueno (Spain), Héctor Bueno (Spain)Search for more papers by this authorScipione Carerj (Italy), Scipione Carerj (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorVeronica Dean (France), Veronica Dean (France)Search for more papers by this authorÇetin Erol (Turkey), Çetin Erol (Turkey)Search for more papers by this authorDonna Fitzsimons (UK), Donna Fitzsimons (UK)Search for more papers by this authorOliver Gaemperli (Switzerland), Oliver Gaemperli (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorPaulus Kirchhof (UK/Germany), Paulus Kirchhof (UK/Germany)Search for more papers by this authorPhilippe Kolh (Belgium), Philippe Kolh (Belgium)Search for more papers by this authorPatrizio Lancellotti (Belgium), Patrizio Lancellotti (Belgium)Search for more papers by this authorGregory Y. H. Lip (UK), Gregory Y. H. Lip (UK)Search for more papers by this authorPetros Nihoyannopoulos (UK), Petros Nihoyannopoulos (UK)Search for more papers by this authorMassimo F. Piepoli (Italy), Massimo F. Piepoli (Italy)Search for more papers by this authorPiotr Ponikowski (Poland), Piotr Ponikowski (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorMarco Roffi (Switzerland), Marco Roffi (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorAdam Torbicki (Poland), Adam Torbicki (Poland)Search for more papers by this authorAntónio Vaz Carneiro (Portugal), António Vaz Carneiro (Portugal)Search for more papers by this authorStephan Windecker (Switzerland), Stephan Windecker (Switzerland)Search for more papers by this authorAuthors/Task Force Members, Authors/Task Force MembersSearch for more papers by this authorESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG), ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG)Search for more papers by this authorDocument Reviewers, Document ReviewersSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 August 2016 https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.654Citations: 215 The content of these European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Guidelines has been published for personal and educational use only. No commercial use is authorized. No part of the ESC Guidelines may be translated or reproduced in any form without written permission from the ESC. Permission can be obtained upon submission of a written request to John Wiley & Sons, the publisher of the European Journal of Heart Failure and the party authorized to handle such permissions on behalf of the ESC (permissions@wiley.com). Disclaimer: . The ESC Guidelines represent the views of the ESC and were produced after careful consideration of the scientific and medical knowledge and the evidence available at the time of their publication. The ESC is not responsible in the event of any contradiction, discrepancy and/or ambiguity between the ESC Guidelines and any other official recommendations or guidelines issued by the relevant public health authorities, in particular in relation to good use of healthcare or therapeutic strategies. Health professionals are encouraged to take the ESC Guidelines fully into account when exercising their clinical judgment, as well as in the determination and the implementation of preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic medical strategies; however, the ESC Guidelines do not override, in any way whatsoever, the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate and accurate decisions in consideration of each patient's health condition and in consultation with that patient and, where appropriate and/or necessary, the patient's caregiver. Nor do the ESC Guidelines exempt health professionals from taking into full and careful consideration the relevant official updated recommendations or guidelines issued by the competent public health authorities, in order to manage each patient's case in light of the scientifically accepted data pursuant to their respective ethical and professional obligations. It is also the health professional's responsibility to verify the applicable rules and regulations relating to drugs and medical devices at the time of prescription. The article has been co-published with permission in European Heart Journal and European Journal of Heart Failure. All rights reserved in respect of European Heart Journal. The disclosure forms of all experts involved in the development of these guidelines are available on the ESC website http://www.escardio.org/guidelines. AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Table of contents Abbreviations and acronyms 3 Preamble 3 1 Introduction 4 2 Cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy: pathophysiology and management 4 2.1 Myocardial dysfunction and heart failure 4 2.1.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 5 2.1.1.1 Anthracyclines 5 2.1.1.2 Other conventional chemotherapies 6 2.1.1.3 Immunotherapies and targeted therapies 6 2.1.1.4 Inhibition of the vascular endothelial growth factor signalling pathway 7 2.1.1.5 Inhibition of BCR-ABL kinase 7 2.1.1.6 Proteasome inhibitors 7 2.1.1.7 Radiotherapy 8 2.1.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 8 2.1.2.1 Screening, risk stratification, and early detection strategies 8 2.1.2.2 Cardiovascular management of patients treated with anthracyclines 9 2.1.2.3 Cardiovascular management of patients treated with anti-HER2 10 2.1.2.4 Cardiovascular management of patients treated with VEGF inhibitors 10 2.1.2.5 Screening and early detection strategies 10 2.1.2.6 Diagnostic tools to detect myocardial toxicity 10 2.1.3 Key points 12 2.2 Coronary artery disease 12 2.2.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 12 2.2.1.1 Fluoropyrimidines 12 2.2.1.2 Cisplatin 12 2.2.1.3 Immune- and targeted therapeutics 12 2.2.1.4 Radiotherapy 13 2.2.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 13 2.2.3 Key points 13 2.3 Valvular disease 13 2.3.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 13 2.3.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 14 2.4 Arrhythmias 14 2.4.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 14 2.4.1.1 QT prolongation 14 2.4.1.2 Supraventricular arrhythmia 14 2.4.1.3 Ventricular arrhythmias 14 2.4.1.4 Sinus node dysfunction and conduction defects 15 2.4.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 15 2.4.2.1 QT interval and associated risk factors for QT prolongation 15 2.4.3 Key points 16 2.4.3.1 Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter 16 2.4.3.2 Bradycardia or atrioventricular block 16 2.5 Arterial hypertension 16 2.5.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 16 2.5.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 17 2.5.3 Key points 17 2.6 Thromboembolic disease 17 2.6.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 17 2.6.1.1 Arterial thrombosis 17 2.6.1.2 Venous thrombosis and thromboembolism 17 2.6.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 18 2.7 Peripheral vascular disease and stroke 18 2.7.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 18 2.7.1.1 Peripheral artery disease 18 2.7.1.2 Stroke 19 2.7.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 19 2.8 Pulmonary hypertension 19 2.8.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation 19 2.8.2 Diagnostic and therapeutic management 19 2.9 Other cardiovascular complications of cancer treatment 20 2.9.1 Pericardial disease 20 2.9.2 Pleural effusion 20 2.9.3 Autonomic dysfunction 20 2.10 Cardiovascular complications of cancer treatment in special populations 20 2.10.1 Paediatric cancer population 20 2.10.2 Elderly patients 20 2.10.3 Pregnant women 20 3 Strategies for prevention and attenuation of cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy 21 3.1 Treatment options to prevent or recover from cancer therapy-induced myocardial dysfunction 21 3.1.1 Before cardiotoxic cancer treatment 21 3.1.2 Patients with troponin elevation 21 3.1.3 Patients with asymptomatic reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction during or after cancer treatment 21 3.1.4 Patients with asymptomatic reduction in global longitudinal strain during chemotherapy 22 3.1.5 Patients with heart failure during and following cancer treatment 22 3.1.6 Non-pharmacological interventions with a cardioprotective effect in patients with cancer 22 3.2 Prevention of thromboembolic events 22 3.3 Strategies for attenuation of complications related to use of specific agents 22 3.3.1 Anthracyclines 22 3.3.2 Her-2 targeted therapy 22 3.3.3 Pyrimidine analogues 23 3.3.4 Vascular endothelial growth factor signalling pathway inhibitors 23 3.3.5 Radiotherapy 23 4 Long-term surveillance programmes for cancer survivors 24 4.1 Myocardial dysfunction 24 4.2 Vascular disease 24 4.3 Valvular disease 24 5 Future perspectives and research directions 24 6 Appendix 25 7 References 25 Abbreviations and acronyms 2-D two-dimensional 3-D three-dimensional 5-FU 5-fluorouracil ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme ARB angiotensin II receptor blocker ASE American Society of Echocardiography BNP B-type natriuretic peptide CABG coronary artery bypass graft CAD coronary artery disease CHA2DS2-VASc Congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction, Hypertension, Age ≥75 (doubled), Diabetes, Stroke (doubled)-Vascular disease, Age 65–74, Sex category (female) CMR cardiac magnetic resonance COT registry Cardiac Oncology Toxicity registry CT computed tomography CTRCD Cancer Therapeutics–Related Cardiac Dysfunction CVD cardiovascular disease EACVI European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging ECG electrocardiogram / electrocardiographic ESC European Society of Cardiology GLS global longitudinal strain GY gray HAS-BLED Hypertension, Abnormal renal/liver function (1 point each), Stroke, Bleeding history or predisposition, Labile international normalized ratio, Elderly (>65 years), Drugs/alcohol concomitantly (1 point each) HDAC histone deacetylase HER2 human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 HF heart failure LMWH low molecular weight heparin LV left ventricle / left ventricular LVEF left ventricular ejection fraction NA not available NOAC non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant NT-proBNP N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide NYHA New York Heart Association PAD peripheral artery disease PAH pulmonary arterial hypertension PCI percutaneous coronary intervention RCT randomized controlled trial T-DM1 trastuzumab-emtansine TKI tyrosine kinase inhibitor VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor VHD valvular heart disease VKA vitamin K antagonist VTE venous thromboembolism WHO World Health Organization Preamble Guidelines and position papers written under the auspices of the ESC Committee for Practice Guidelines (CPG) summarize and evaluate all available evidence on a particular issue at the time of the writing process, with the aim of assisting health professionals in selecting the best management strategies for an individual patient with a given condition, taking into account the impact on outcome, as well as the risk–benefit ratio of particular diagnostic or therapeutic means. CPG Guidelines and position papers should help health professionals to make decisions in their daily practice. However, the final decisions concerning an individual patient must be made by the responsible health professional(s) in consultation with the patient and caregiver as appropriate. Members of this Task Force were selected by the ESC to represent professionals involved with the medical care of patients with this pathology. Selected experts in the field undertook a comprehensive review of the published evidence for management (including diagnosis, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation) of a given condition according to CPG policy. A critical evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures was performed, including assessment of the risk–benefit ratio. Estimates of expected health outcomes for larger populations were included, where data exist. The experts of the writing and reviewing panels provided declarations of interest forms for all relationships that might be perceived as real or potential sources of conflicts of interest. These forms were compiled into one file and can be found on the ESC website (http://www.escardio.org/guidelines). Any changes in declarations of interest that arise during the writing period must be notified to the ESC and updated. The Task Force received its entire financial support from the ESC without any involvement from the healthcare industry. The ESC CPG supervises and coordinates the preparation of new guidelines and position papers produced by task forces, expert groups or consensus panels. The Committee is also responsible for the endorsement process of these documents. The CPG documents undergo extensive review by the CPG and external experts. After appropriate revisions these documents are approved by all the experts involved in the Task Force. The finalized document is approved by the CPG for publication in the European Heart Journal. The CPG documents were developed after careful consideration of the scientific and medical knowledge and the evidence available at the time of their dating. The task of developing CPG documents covers not only integration of the most recent research, but also the creation of educational tools and implementation programmes for the recommendations. To implement these documents, condensed pocket guidelines versions, summary slides and an electronic version for digital applications (smartphones, etc.) are produced as well as other educational tools depending on the topic. These versions are abridged and thus, if needed, one should always refer to the full text version, which is freely available on the ESC website. The National Cardiac Societies of the ESC are encouraged to endorse, translate and implement all CPG documents (guidelines and position papers). Implementation programmes are needed because it has been shown that the outcome of disease may be favourably influenced by the thorough application of clinical recommendations. Surveys and registries are needed to verify that real-life daily practice is in keeping with what is recommended in the guidelines, thus completing the loop between clinical research, writing of guidelines, disseminating them and implementing them into clinical practice. Health professionals are encouraged to take the CPG Guidelines and Position Papers fully into account when exercising their clinical judgment, as well as in the determination and the implementation of preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic medical strategies. However, these CPG documents do not override in any way whatsoever the individual responsibility of health professionals to make appropriate and accurate decisions in consideration of each patient's health condition and in consultation with that patient and the patient's caregiver where appropriate and/or necessary. It is also the health professional's responsibility to verify the rules and regulations applicable to drugs and devices at the time of prescription. 1 Introduction Advances in treatment have led to improved survival of patients with cancer, but have also increased morbidity and mortality due to treatment side effects.1, 2 Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the most frequent of these side effects, and there is a growing concern that they may lead to premature morbidity and death among cancer survivors.3 This may be the result of cardiotoxicity, which involves direct effects of the cancer treatment on heart function and structure, or may be due to accelerated development of CVD, especially in the presence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.4 Although the field of cardio-oncology has received increasing attention in recent years, many aspects of both radiation-induced and cancer drug–induced CVD are still to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, the inability to predict the long-term consequences of cancer treatment–associated cardiovascular side effects leads to under- or overdiagnosis of CVD, sometimes resulting in the failure to prevent adverse events and sometimes to inappropriate interruption of a potentially lifesaving cancer treatment. The complex issue of CVD as a consequence of previous cancer treatment requires the creation of multidisciplinary teams involving specialists in cardiology, oncology and other related fields. The mutual interest to provide optimal care for patients with cancer and cancer survivors is an important motivation for the development of cardio-oncology teams. However, the extent of care and the interaction between the disciplines involved has not yet been defined. The complexity of the clinical questions to be addressed by cardio-oncologists will require the definition of a curriculum describing the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver optimal care and the hospital setting in which these experts will be active. These cardio-oncology teams should also be involved in the long-term surveillance of cancer survivors with a potential for late-onset cardiovascular complications and in the development of potential new treatments that may have cardiotoxic effects, as well as in the evaluation of cardiac events related to such drugs. This document reviews the different steps in cardiovascular monitoring and decision-making before, during and after cancer treatment with potential cardiovascular side effects. Although this document is not a formal clinical practice guideline, it aims to assist professionals involved in the treatment of patients with cancer and survivors by providing an expert consensus regarding current standards of care for these individuals. In general, the cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy can be divided into nine main categories, which are discussed in this document: myocardial dysfunction and heart failure (HF); coronary artery disease (CAD); valvular disease; arrhythmias, especially those induced by QT-prolonging drugs; arterial hypertension; thromboembolic disease; peripheral vascular disease and stroke; pulmonary hypertension and pericardial complications. 2 Cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy: pathophysiology and management 2.1 Myocardial dysfunction and heart failure 2.1.1 Pathophysiology and clinical presentation Myocardial dysfunction and HF, frequently described as cardiotoxicity, are the most concerning cardiovascular complications of cancer therapies and cause an increase in morbidity and mortality. A collaborative effort among specialists involved in the treatment of patients with cancer is critical to prevent and manage cardiotoxicity while not compromising cancer care, to maximize the patient's overall outcome.5 The time point when cardiotoxicity becomes clinically manifest varies substantially; some cancer treatments induce side effects that appear early after exposure—and therefore may adversely affect oncological therapy—while others generate cardiac injuries resulting in clinical problems only years later. In addition, some cancer drugs, for example, anthracyclines, can induce progressive cardiac remodelling as a late consequence of earlier myocyte damage, resulting in late cardiomyopathy, while others may cause transient cardiac dysfunction without long-term consequences. The prediction of long-term cardiovascular prognosis is frequently challenging be