Cardiology meets oncology: Combination therapies improve survival rates and quality of life

“In Austria, between 40,000 and 50,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year. Around 10 to 30 per cent of them have an existing heart condition or require combined cardiological treatment as part of their cancer care. The role of cardiology is not to prevent vital cancer treatment, but to provide cardiological support to patients from the outset and, where necessary, to assist them with cardiac therapies, so that they can generally survive both the cancer and any potential cardiological side effects well and enjoy a good, long-term quality of life,” says Assoc. Prof. Dr Jutta Bergler-Klein, Head of the Cardio-Oncology Outpatient Clinic at the Department of Internal Medicine II at Meduni Vienna, member of the ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology and Local Host of the ESC Cardio-Oncology Conference 2026.

Higher cancer survival rates bring heart health into focus

Thanks to modern cancer treatments, there has been a huge increase in cancer survival rates. “As a result, around 80% of breast cancer patients now beat the disease and survive. Cancer can often be cured through new, precise tumour treatments, or has now become a chronic condition with which people can live for a long time. Due to this change and the resulting longer life expectancy, it is a major concern for us cardiologists that cardiovascular side effects which may arise from cancer treatment are prevented or at least mitigated. “This increased cardiovascular risk can occur during cancer treatment itself or as a long-term consequence years later. That is why it is so important to raise awareness of heart health among cancer patients and to monitor the heart both during cancer treatment and in follow-up care,” she emphasizes. During or after cancer treatment, there may be an increased incidence of heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias (e.g. atrial fibrillation), hypertension, or, more rarely, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) or coronary syndromes (heart attack).

Identifying and managing cardiovascular risk from the outset

In general, it is possible to accurately assess individual cardiovascular risk in cancer patients. This risk generally increases with advancing age, smoking, a history of cancer, and risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, existing heart failure and a history of heart attack. ECG, echocardiography and the analysis of other biomarkers such as blood sugar, cholesterol and the cardiac hormones BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) and NT-proBNP (an inactive precursor fragment of BNP), which are produced in the heart when it is overloaded or stretched, provide insight into the state of cardiac health. CT scans, which are usually performed for cancer diagnosis, can also detect potential coronary calcifications in the coronary arteries. “It is, of course, important that we need prompt appointments for these cardiological investigations and, consequently, more resources, so that there are no delays in oncological treatment,” emphasizes Bergler-Klein.

Combination therapy – cancer and heart disease

If a patient is found to have elevated BNP levels in their blood, echocardiography is carried out at regular intervals during cancer treatment to monitor cardiac function. Should this indicate developing heart failure, or in the event of symptoms such as shortness of breath or leg oedema, concomitant treatment is initiated with medications such as ACE inhibitors/ARBs, sacubitril valsartan, beta-blockers and SGLT2 inhibitors. If coronary artery disease is detected during screening examinations – for example, due to changes in the ECG, symptoms of angina pectoris or an increase in serum troponin – a coronary examination using CT or cardiac catheterization is performed, and a stent may be placed in the heart during cancer treatment. To prevent potential heart damage during chemotherapy with anthracyclines, there is also the drug dexrazoxane, which is intended to protect the heart in cases where heart failure or prior chemotherapy treatment is already present, as well as liposomal anthracycline. “In many cases, we have effective adjunctive cardiac therapy at our disposal. In some cases, this may lead to a dose adjustment in oncology or the preventive choice of a different cancer treatment approach,” says Bergler-Klein.

Heart monitoring as an important part of aftercare for cancer patients

“In general, cancer patients are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease over the course of their lives. Parents and children who received highly effective but also high-dose cancer drugs during childhood are often unaware of this. To ensure that these young adults do not develop heart failure at an early stage, for example between the ages of 25 and 30, it is particularly important to undergo annual check-ups at an early stage and heart function tests (echocardiography) every five years, and then, if necessary, to start appropriate heart treatments early on,” emphasizes Bergler-Klein. Even those who have beaten cancer as adults should have their heart monitored regularly as part of important follow-up care. After overcoming breast cancer, for example, the risk of developing a heart condition (e.g. heart failure, coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation) within five years doubles.

About IAKW-AG and ESC

IAKW-AG (Internationales Amtssitz- und Konferenzzentrum Wien, Aktiengesellschaft) is responsible for the maintenance of the Vienna International Centre (VIC) and the operation of the Austria Center Vienna. With 21 halls, 134 meeting rooms and around 26,000 m² of exhibition space, the Austria Center Vienna is Austria’s largest congress centre and ranks among the top players in the international congress industry. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is the leading professional society, with 58 member countries and over 100,000 members, in the fight against cardiovascular diseases, which remain the leading cause of death worldwide. The ESC Congress is regarded as the largest and most influential cardiovascular conference in the world. Building on the success of the first ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology Conference in 2025, the ESC is organizing this year’s ESC Cardio-Oncology Conference, which will take place from 19 to 20 June at the Austria Center Vienna. The conference brings together leading global experts in cardiology, oncology, haematology, radiotherapy and related disciplines to discuss how to reduce cardiovascular risks in patients with cancer and survivors. Collaboration between these disciplines is a key driver for improving patient outcomes, and the conference serves as a forum to help shape the future of this rapidly evolving field. Joint sessions will be held with ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology), EHA (European Hematology Association), ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology) and EACVI (European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging).
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