Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease
Laith Alhuneafat, Avirup Guha, Anne Blaes, Suma Konety
Abstract
Cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remain the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with emerging evidence highlighting their complex and bidirectional interplay. Shared risk factors, including aging, systemic inflammation, metabolic dysregulation, and lifestyle behaviors, can contribute to their co-occurrence while underlying biological mechanisms such as oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and clonal hematopoiesis further reinforce their connection. These mechanisms drive pathophysiological changes contributing to disease progression, increasing susceptibility to both conditions. This review explores the epidemiology, overlapping biological pathways, and risk factors linking cancer and CVD, emphasizing key mechanisms such as epigenetic modifications, immune system dysregulation, and cellular senescence. Future research should aim to identify biomarkers, refine risk models, and develop targeted strategies to mitigate disease burden and improve outcomes.