Assessment of Lipoprotein(a) in Patients with Cancer: Relevance for Cardio-Oncology Practice
4 affiliations
- 1Students’ Scientific Circle at the Department of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
- 2Cardio-Oncology Outpatient Clinic, University Clinical Center, 80-210 Gdańsk, Poland
- 3Department of Cardiac Diagnostics, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
- 4Department of Cardiology and Electrotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer and in cancer survivors. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a largely genetically determined causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve disease, acting through proatherogenic, proinflammatory, and potentially prothrombotic pathways. These mechanisms may be relevant in cancer, where inflammation, hypercoagulability, metabolic disturbances, and treatment-related cardiovascular toxicity increase cardiovascular risk. Observational studies have also linked circulating Lp(a) to tumor characteristics, disease stage, or prognosis in several malignancies. However, these findings are heterogeneous, often derived from small, retrospective, or single-center cohorts, and do not establish a causal role for Lp(a) in cancer development or progression. Evidence relating Lp(a) specifically to cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity remains limited, and a prospective biomarker cohort found no association between baseline Lp(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events. This review summarizes the biology and measurement of Lp(a), critically evaluates its reported oncological associations, and examines its relevance in cardio-oncology. Currently, Lp(a) should be interpreted primarily as part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment rather than as a cancer-specific or cardiotoxicity biomarker. Prospective, treatment-specific studies are needed to determine whether Lp(a) improves risk prediction or represents an actionable therapeutic target in this population.
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BibTeX
@article{wojtowicz2026assessment,
title = {{Assessment of Lipoprotein(a) in Patients with Cancer: Relevance for Cardio-Oncology Practice}},
author = {Małgorzata Wójtowicz and Wiktor Bortnowski and Alicja Grzenkowicz and Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka and Dorota Smolarek and Grzegorz Sławiński and Ludmiła Daniłowicz-Szymanowicz and Ewa Lewicka},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.3390/ijms272110055},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/10055},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Assessment of Lipoprotein(a) in Patients with Cancer: Relevance for Cardio-Oncology Practice
AU - Małgorzata Wójtowicz
AU - Wiktor Bortnowski
AU - Alicja Grzenkowicz
AU - Zuzanna Lewicka-Potocka
AU - Dorota Smolarek
AU - Grzegorz Sławiński
AU - Ludmiła Daniłowicz-Szymanowicz
AU - Ewa Lewicka
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/09
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms272110055
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/10055
AB - Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer and in cancer survivors. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a largely genetically determined causal risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve disease, acting through proatherogenic, proinflammatory, and potentially prothrombotic pathways. These mechanisms may be relevant in cancer, where inflammation, hypercoagulability, metabolic disturbances, and treatment-related cardiovascular toxicity increase cardiovascular risk. Observational studies have also linked circulating Lp(a) to tumor characteristics, disease stage, or prognosis in several malignancies. However, these findings are heterogeneous, often derived from small, retrospective, or single-center cohorts, and do not establish a causal role for Lp(a) in cancer development or progression. Evidence relating Lp(a) specifically to cancer therapy-related cardiovascular toxicity remains limited, and a prospective biomarker cohort found no association between baseline Lp(a) and major adverse cardiovascular events. This review summarizes the biology and measurement of Lp(a), critically evaluates its reported oncological associations, and examines its relevance in cardio-oncology. Currently, Lp(a) should be interpreted primarily as part of comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment rather than as a cancer-specific or cardiotoxicity biomarker. Prospective, treatment-specific studies are needed to determine whether Lp(a) improves risk prediction or represents an actionable therapeutic target in this population.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -