# Coronary Flow Velocity Reserve Declines After Anthracycline Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients

## TL;DR

This study shows that a common breast cancer treatment reduces coronary blood flow reserve, suggesting potential heart risks.

## Contribution

The study is the first to show coronary flow changes in humans after anthracycline therapy for breast cancer.

## Key findings

- CFVR significantly declined after anthracycline therapy in breast cancer patients.
- This is the first prospective study to identify such coronary physiology changes in a cardio-oncology context.

## Abstract

Anthracycline therapy (ANT) is associated with cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction. Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) has shown prognostic utility in non-cancer cohorts, but no data have been obtained in a cardio-oncology setting. We investigated the acute effect of ANT on CFVR in breast cancer patients. A total of 12 female breast cancer patients undergoing ANT had pre- and post-ANT CFVR assessment. A significant decline in CFVR occurred (baseline: 2.66 ± 0.41 vs post-ANT: 2.47 ± 0.37, P = 0.016). This prospective study is the first to identify ANT-related coronary physiology changes in humans. Further studies are required to determine their clinical significance.