Cardiotoxicities of Novel Therapies in Hematological Malignancies: Monoclonal Antibodies and Enzyme Inhibitors

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies (mAB) selectively target leukemia surface antigens and work by either blocking cell surface receptors or triggering the target cell's destruction. Similarly, enzyme inhibitors bind to complex molecular platforms and induce downstream mechanisms that trigger cell death. These are used in a variety of hematologic malignancies. Yet, they also elicit severe immune-mediated reactions as biological agents that require careful monitoring. Cardiovascular effects include cardiomyopathy, ventricular dysfunction, cardiac arrest, and acute coronary syndrome. While there have been scattered reviews of mAB and enzyme inhibitors, a consolidated resource regarding their cardiovascular risk profile is lacking. We provide general recommendations for initial screening and serial monitoring based on the literature.