Modern cancer therapies can fight tumors effectively, but in part they damage the heart muscle cells (cardiotoxicity).
As a consequence, cardiovascular problems such as heart failure can develop. Recent data show that not only cancer therapies but also the cancer itself can impair heart function. We combine careful cardiological care with scientific investigation of these interactions – aiming to develop early risk stratification concepts and novel approaches for cardioprotection.
Since 2016, our team has cared for patients before, during and after potentially cardiotoxic cancer therapy in the specialist Cardio-Oncology outpatient clinic. The section is part of the Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology and is closely affiliated with the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT).
Board-certified specialist in internal medicine, cardiology and intensive care medicine, with expertise in interventional cardiology and a research focus on cardiac epigenetics, cardiac metabolism and clinical cardio-oncology. Former postdoctoral researcher at EMBL Heidelberg. Founder and former spokesperson of the DGHO Working Group on Cardio-Oncology and the DGK Working Group on Cardio-Oncology, guideline author and lead author of the DGK Cardio-Oncology Curriculum. He leads the group and connects clinical questions with preclinical models.
Contact: lorenz.lehmann@med.uni-heidelberg.de · ORCID: 0000-0001-5077-8580