Cardiovascular effects of chemotherapy after colorectal cancer surgery

This study investigated the cardiovascular effects of chemotherapy after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery. Researchers suggested that this treatment increases the stiffness of blood vessels in patients with CRC.

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of cancer mortality. However, the mortality rate has decreased in the last 40 years due to improved treatments. Chemotherapy after surgery aims at reducing the risk of recurrence. This treatment kills cancer cells left behind after surgery and it is recommended to be given to all high-risk patients (stage 2 and 3 CRC). However, the use of chemotherapy comes at the expense of a higher risk of side effects.

Cardiovascular (heart disease) toxicity is only present in between 1.6 and 8.5% of patients having chemotherapy. Prior studies suggested that patients with CRC have increased blood vessel stiffness. Blood vessel stiffness impairs blood flow to the heart. It is associated with a higher risk of heart attack or stroke. However, how chemotherapy causes this side effect is not fully understood.

This study included information about 70 patients with high-risk CRC. Of these, 16 were treated with FOLFOX (folinic acid, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin) and 54 with XELOX (capecitabine, oxaliplatin). All patients were evaluated at the start and end of treatment.

These patients showed an increase in blood vessel stiffness after treatment. This effect was equally present in both treatment groups and in patients with different CRC stages.   

This study suggested that chemotherapy after CRC surgery increases the stiffness of blood vessels, regardless of treatment type.

This study had a limited number of participants. Further studies, with a bigger population, are necessary. This study also did not evaluate whether cardiovascular treatment would decrease the risk of developing blood vessel stiffness.