How cancer treatment is linked to heart disease

Understanding the effects of cancer radiation therapy on endothelial cell dysfunction- the role of Nuclear factor kappa B

Cancer treatment can involve killing cancer cells with radiation. Radiation treatment is often successful but irradiation can also damage blood vessels, including the coronary arteries, and people can go on to develop heart disease. The goal of this research is to understand what happens inside the cells of the blood vessels when they are hit by radiation. In preliminary experiments, the research team at the University of Strathclyde has shown that radiation treatment activates a signalling pathway called the nuclear factor kappa B (NFkB) pathway inside cells lining the blood vessel (endothelial cells). The researchers propose that the NFkB pathway could prevent endothelial cells from functioning properly, leading to damage. This project will determine how activation of NFkB signalling in human endothelial cells affects these cells. As cancer treatments become more curative, it is likely many more cancer survivors will develop cardiovascular problems, so, it is essential to understand better the molecular mechanisms that cause this side effect. This information could form the basis for the development of new treatments to prevent or treat cancer related heart problems.