Expert Perspectives on Cardiac Baseline and Surveillance Testing in Immunotherapy Recipients

This is a video synopsis/summary of an OncLive Insights involving Afreen Shariff, MD, MBBS; Javid Moslehi, MD; and Nikhil Khushalani, MD.

Dr Shariff asks about checking baseline and serial troponins in asymptomatic immunotherapy patients. Dr Moslehi strongly recommends baseline EKG and troponin testing in all patients before starting immunotherapy to help determine whether symptoms later develop on treatment. However, routine troponin surveillance remains controversial, especially since baseline elevations occur in a substantial portion of patients, confounding interpretation of subsequent levels. Ultimately whether baseline troponins should change immunotherapy decision-making requires further study.

Dr Khushalani agrees routine surveillance troponins are not done presently but notes emerging data on increased myocarditis with certain immunotherapy combinations warrant caution during patient counseling. Dr Shariff concludes there is still much debate around optimal troponin testing approaches that impact management.

Video synopsis is AI-generated and reviewed by OncLive^® editorial staff.