Radiation Therapy for Lung Cancer Linked to Pulmonary Hypertension Risk

Lung cancer patients receiving radiation therapy may face an elevated risk of developing pulmonary hypertension, a condition that can lead to right-sided heart failure, according to a new study led by Cedars-Sinai investigators published in Thorax. The research, which examined data from patients at Cedars-Sinai, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, found that 12% of those treated for lung cancer developed the condition. Investigators identified a specific link between radiation dose to the pulmonary artery and pulmonary hypertension, marking the first clinical evidence of this association in humans. The findings suggest pulmonary hypertension is a potentially under-recognized outcome of chest radiation therapy, prompting calls for increased awareness, new guidelines for assessing at-risk patients, and further research. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Cedars-Sinai Garber Award for Cancer Research.