Heart Cancer
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Liberty University
Master of Arts in Medical
Sciences MSCI 500
Cancer of the Heart
Olivia Perrott
ID: L32313479
October 10, 2021
Words: 989
Heart Cancer
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Introduction
Like almost all other forms of cancer, heart cancer can be described as the abnormal
growth and proliferation of irregular heart cells. The heart is one of the most important organs
within the human body. It is the muscle that is responsible for moving oxygenated and
deoxygenated blood throughout the body, which is a process required by all other organs and
tissues within the body to survive and function properly.1 Most of the time cardiac tumors are
developed from other metastatic cancer cells that have spread from another location inside the
body.2
Types/Forms
The majority of heart associated cancers either coincide with cardiovascular disease or
develop from pre-existing cardiovascular disease.1 Cardiac cancers are rare, and often benign,
however the most common form of cardiac tumor is known as a cardiac myxoma and comprises
around fifty-percent of primary cardiac tumors development.2 Then there are the less common
presentations of cardiac cancer such as lipomas, hemangiomas, fibromas, rhabdomyomas, and
papillary fibroelastomas. The most frequently occurring primary malignant heart tumors has
been found to be sarcomas, specifically an angiosarcoma, forming from abnormal blood vessels
located inside the right atrium.3
Epidemiology
Heart cancer and cardiovascular disease account for almost 50% of all mortalities within
the United States of America as of 2010. The majority of individuals effected are either adults or
elderly and, although both genders can become afflicted, men are affected more often than
women.1 Around one-fifth of all cardiac cancers in patients are developed from tumor metastasis
somewhere else within the body.2 In regard to papillary fibroelastomas, the majority of patients
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that receive this diagnosis are around sixty-years old. Generally, patients with cardiac tumors are
found to have increased temperatures, significant weigth loss, excessive exhaustion, muscle pain,
night sweats, persistent coughing, and/or leukocytosis.4
Risk Factors
Many of the risk factors associated with heart cancer are the same or similar to those
known to be related to cardiovascular disease. These common risk factors include abnormal lipid
synthesis, smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, an individual’s physical activity, and diet.1
Pathobiology
The majority of cardiac tumors appear as singular formations and only multiple on rare
occasions. The tumors can often block or obstruct the proper function of tricuspid or mitral
valves, leading to arterial hypertension. They can also give rise to embolisms and subsequent
systemic alterations, like anemia.5
Molecular Basis of Cancer
The composition of cardiac tumors is mainly abnormal endothelial cells surrounded by
thinly walled capillary vessels. The majority of the tumor is comprised of amorphous matrix and
the predominant product of the cancer associated cells is a mucopolysaccharide.5
Clinical Manifestation
In general patients present with nonspecific symptoms that depend on the location of the
tumor and the level of infiltration that the tumor has achieved. There are often secondary
complications that present alongside the cardiac tumor, like cardiovascular disease, arrythmias,
and embolisms.5
Biomarkers and Cytogenic Laboratory Features
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The main biomarker for primary cardiac cancers is the mucopolysaccharide that is
cellularly related to chondroitin C. This biomarker can be found by utilizing a ferric iron-based
stain like toluidine blue and is found inside the heart valves and corresponding blood vessels.5
Metastasis
Malignant cardiac tumors are extremely rare but can occur and are often sarcomas
located within the pericardial tissue of the heart.2 Often times malignant cardiac tumors are
secondary tumors that develop from hematogenous or lymphogenous spreading.6
Staging
There are multiple methods that may be used to initially screen for cardiac tumors. This
includes collecting/performing a complete blood count, chest x-rays, electrocardiograms,
echocardiograms, computed tomographs, magnetic resonance images, cardiac catheterization,
and coronary angiograms.4
Screening/Prevention
Patients often present with non-specific symptoms and, in regard to prevention, the most
common forms include chemotherapy and radiation to prevent further tumor cell growth.3
Cancer Therapy
Between chemotherapy and other chemical treatments, the most common and successful
treatments for malignant cardiac tumors is surgery. Specifically surgical resection of the effected
tissues/cells. Chemotherapy has also been found to successfully treat benign cardiac
lymphomas.2 Treatments for all cancers, including cardiac cancers, begins with a diagnostic
understanding of the tumors type, location, and size. Blood tests and different types of imaging
are used to accomplish this process, and depending on the findings, surgical excision,
chemotherapy, and/or radiation might be recommended.3
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Prognosis
The total amount of cancer survivors has increased within the past thirty-fifty years due
to the advancements made in detection methods, allowing for earlier detection, and in treatments,
however the prognosis for heart cancer is not always so hopeful. Depending on how early the
cancer is detected, if it has started to metastasize to other locations within the body, and the
treatment used in a patient, the survival rate can vary between five months to two or three years.1
Current/Future Research
There are studies that show promise in the future successful treatment and resection of
cardiac tumors. All cardiac tumors are initially treated with surgical removal and there are studies
discussing the use of three-dimensional printed structures to aid in this procedure. They have
found that three-dimensional printed recreations of cardiac tumors can better prepare for surgical
excision and increase the chances of successful outcomes.6
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References
1. Mendelsohn J, Howley PM, Israel MA, Gray JW, & Thompson CB. The Molecular Basis
of Cancer E-Book. 4th Edition. Elsevier Health Sciences (US);
2014. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9780323261968
2. Suvarna KS, ed. Cardiac pathology. Second ed. Springer Nature Switzerland
AG; 2019. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24560-3.
3. Dick SA, Epelman S. Chronic heart failure and inflammation. In:
Circulation research. Ontario, Canada: American Heart Association,
Inc; 2016. 10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.116.308030.
4. Mann DL. Inflammatory mediators and the failing heart: Past, present, and the foreseeable
future. Circulation Research. 2002;91(11):988-
998. http://circres.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/91/11/988.
doi: 10.1161/01.RES.0000043825.01705.1B.
5. Heath D, , M R C P, Birmingham MP, ET. Pathology of cardiac tumors. The American
Journal of Cardiology. 1968;21(3):315. doi: 10.1016/0002-9149(68)90136-7.
6. Hoffmeier A, Sindermann JR, Scheld HH, Martens S. Cardiac tumors. Deutsches
Ärzteblatt international. 2014. doi: 10.3238/arztebl.2014.0205.
