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# Chemotherapy boosts heart failure/cardiomyopathy risk in breast cancer patients
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/chemotherapy_heart_failure_cardiomyopathy_breast_cancer_09041205/
- Published: 2012-09-04T06:41:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:20:52.000Z
- Description: Among 12,500 women treated for invasive breast cancer, those given anthracycline alone were 40 percent more likely to develop heart failure or cardiomyopathy than women who had no chemotherapy, while trastuzumab users were 4.12 times and combined users 7.19 times as likely.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Drug, Health News, #vivvo-import

By David Liu, PHD

Tuesday Sept 4, 2012 ([foodconsumer.org](http://www.foodconsumer.org/)) -- Taking cancer drugs anthracycline or trastuzumab to treat breast cancer may increase risk of heart failure and cardiomyopathy, according to a new observational study recently published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Clinical trials have already demonstrated that women treated for breast cancer with chemotherapy drugs anthracycline or trastuzumab face elevated risk for heart failure and/or cardiomyopathy (HF/CM). The current study led by Erin J. Aiello Bowles of Group Health Research Institute in Seattle, WA and colleagues was intended to examine if the association is applicable to real-world adjuvant anthracycline and trastuzumab use.

Enrolled in the study were 12 500 women diagnosed with incident, invasive breast cancer between Jan. 1, 1999 and Dec. 31, 2007 at eight integrated Cancer Research Network health systems. Use of anthracycline, trastuzumab, and other chemotherapy and cases of incident heart failure/cardiomyopathy following chemotherapy initiation were identified.

Among 12, 500 female breast cancer patients at a mean age of 60 years, 29.6% received anthracycline, 0.9% trastuzumab, 3.5% anthracycline plus trastuzumab, 19.5% other chemotherapy, and 46.5% no chemotherapy. Anthracycline and trastuzumab users were younger, with fewer comorbidities than users of other chemotherapy or non-users. 

After adjustment for age at diagnosis, stage, Cancer Research Network site, year of diagnosis, radiotherapy, and comorbidities, breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline alone or other chemotherapy were 40 or 49 percent, respectively, more likely to suffer heart failure/cardiomyopathy than those who used no chemotherapy.

Patients treated with trastuzumab alone or anthracycline plus trastusumab were 4.12 times or 7.19 times, respectively, as likely as those who did not receive chemotherapy to develop heart failure and or cardiomyopathy.

The researchers concluded "Anthracycline and trastuzumab were primarily used in younger, healthier women and associated with increased HF/CM (heart failure/cardiomyopathy) risk compared with no chemotherapy."