Newly formed Council of Cardio-Oncology aims to reduce burden of cardiovascular diseases - PDF version
Cardio-oncology is a field with many unmet needs and gaps in knowledge. In recent years, there has been a sharp increase in the number of retrospective studies that have begun to investigate the effect of modern radiotherapy on the heart, and several prospective trials have been initiated. While we await the results, there is an urgent need for guidelines and recommendations for the multidisciplinary management of cardiovascular disease in cancer patients and survivors. The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) created a cardio-oncology council, which was formed in 2018 and is chaired by Dr Riccardo Asteggiano (cardiologist, Turin, Italy) for the period 2018-2020.
Radiotherapy professionals from all sub-specialities are welcome to join the new ESC Council of Cardio-Oncology. As with the six established ESC councils, the aim of the Council of Cardio-Oncology is to encourage research, education and the sharing of knowledge in order to reduce the burden of cardiovascular diseases. This aligns with the vision statement of the European SocieTy for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO) for 2030: ‘Radiation Oncology: Optimal Health for All, Together’. For ESTRO members, this is a unique opportunity to engage with our cardiology colleagues at the European level, share information about advanced radiotherapy techniques that can facilitate heart-dose reduction and progress in the implementation of heart-dose limits. This network could also be used to discuss the therapeutic applications of radiotherapy for cardiac conditions, e.g. ablation of ventricular tachycardia.
You can join the Council of Cardio-Oncology at https://www.escardio.org/Councils/council-of-cardio-oncology (membership is free)
Marianne Aznar
School of Medical Sciences
Division of Cancer Sciences
Manchester University
Manchester, UK
Riccardo Asteggiano
Adjunct professor
Insubria University Varese, Italy
LARC (Laboratorio Analisi e Ricerca Clinica)
Turin, Italy