A new study led by researchers at NYU Langone Health reveals that cancer immunotherapy treatments called immune checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system attack tumors, can potentially increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. The research demonstrates that these drugs may trigger damaging inflammation in the heart and arterial tissues by interfering with immune checkpoint regulation in blood vessels.
By analyzing genetic activity in immune cells from arterial plaques, the researchers found that the same immune checkpoints targeted by cancer therapies also appear in arterial immune cells, establishing a link between the treatment and cardiovascular events. The study also explored how type 2 diabetes may further increase vulnerability to these side effects, noting that patients with diabetes showed less communication between immune checkpoints, potentially leading to increased inflammation.
The researchers emphasize the interconnected nature of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Furthermore, they suggest that patients and physicians should be aware of potential heart concerns following cancer treatment, with future investigations planned to further understand these complex interactions.
Image from iStock by Manassanant.