The role of metabolic diseases in cardiotoxicity associated with cancer therapy: What we know, what we would know

Metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, are known risk factors for cardiovascular (CV) diseases. Thus, patients with those comorbidities could be at increased risk of experiencing cardiotoxicity related to treatment with Anthracyclines and the other new generation targeted anticancer drugs. However, investigations addressing the mechanisms underlying the development of CV complications and poor outcome in such cohort of patients are still few and controversial. Given the importance of a personalized approach against chemotherapy- induced cardiomyopathy, this review summarizes our current knowledge on the pathophysiology of chemotherapy- induced cardiomyopathy and its association with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Along with clinical evidences, future perspectives of preclinical research around this field and its role in addressing important open questions, including the development of more proactive strategies for prevention, and treatment of cardiotoxicity during and after chemotherapy in the presence of metabolic diseases, is also presented.