Metabolomic perspectives in antiblastic cardiotoxicity and cardioprotection

Despite advances in supportive and protective therapy for myocardial function, cardiovascular diseases due to antineoplastic therapy—primarily cardiomyopathy associated with contractile dysfunction—remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Because of the limitations associated with current therapies, investigators are searching for alternative strategies that can timely recognise cardiovascular damage—thus permitting a quick therapeutic approach—or prevent the development of the disease. Damage to the heart can result from both traditional chemotherapeutic agents, such as anthracyclines, and new targeted therapies, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. In recent years, metabolomics has proved to be a practical tool to highlight fundamental changes in the metabolic state in several pathological conditions. In this article, we present the state-of-the-art technology with regard to the metabolic mechanisms underlying cardiotoxicity and cardioprotection.