Most people think of heart disease and cancer as completely different illnesses. One affects the heart and blood vessels, while the other involves abnormal cell growth that can spread throughout the body.
Yet researchers are increasingly discovering that the two conditions may be connected in ways that were not understood before.
A new study led by UCLA Health physician-scientists has found that small changes in the heart may serve as early warning signs of future cancer risk. The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, suggests that subtle abnormalities visible on heart scans may appear years before certain cancers develop.
The discovery comes at a time when scientists are searching for better ways to identify disease risk before symptoms appear. Early detection is one of the most effective tools in modern medicine. The sooner doctors can identify a problem, the greater the chance of preventing serious illness or improving outcomes.
To investigate whether the heart could provide clues about future cancer risk, researchers turned to a large long-term study known as MESA, or the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. This project has followed thousands of Americans for decades to better understand factors that influence cardiovascular health.
More than 6,000 adults participated in the study. They were between 45 and 84 years old when they joined and did not have known cardiovascular disease at the time. Researchers collected detailed information about their health, lifestyles, and medical histories.
One of the most valuable parts of the study was the use of cardiac MRI scans. These scans provide highly detailed images of the heart and allow researchers to detect tiny changes that might otherwise go unnoticed. The scans measured the size of heart chambers, the thickness of heart muscle, and how effectively different parts of the heart functioned.
After collecting the initial heart scans, researchers followed participants for an average of 18 years. During that period, they recorded new cancer diagnoses and looked for patterns linking early heart characteristics to future disease.
The results were surprising. Researchers found that individuals with early signs of heart remodeling were more likely to develop certain cancers later in life. Heart remodeling refers to gradual changes in heart structure or function that can occur before symptoms develop.
One particularly strong finding involved breast cancer. Women with larger left ventricular mass were more likely to receive a breast cancer diagnosis during follow-up. The left ventricle is the chamber responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body, and increased muscle mass can sometimes indicate the heart is working harder than normal.
The study also identified a link between colorectal cancer and the function of the left atrium. The left atrium receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and passes it to the left ventricle. Researchers found that people whose left atrium functioned less effectively had a greater likelihood of developing colorectal cancer in the future.
Overall, 790 participants developed cancer during the follow-up period. These cases included breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers. Researchers observed that cancer risk tended to increase as measurements of cardiac remodeling became more pronounced.
The findings support a growing body of evidence suggesting that heart disease and cancer may share underlying biological processes. Scientists believe inflammation, hormonal changes, metabolic disturbances, and other factors may contribute to both conditions.
Lead researcher Dr. Xinjiang Cai explained that the study demonstrates an association rather than proof of causation. The results do not mean that heart changes directly cause cancer. Instead, the heart changes may serve as markers of biological processes that also increase cancer risk.
Researchers took into account many known risk factors, including age, blood pressure, diabetes, and other health conditions. Even after making these adjustments, the associations remained significant. However, the investigators acknowledge that unmeasured factors could still have influenced the findings.
What makes this study particularly valuable is the use of advanced imaging technology. Earlier studies found that blood tests and calcium deposits in the arteries were linked to future cancer risk. This research goes a step further by examining subtle structural changes inside the heart itself.
If future studies confirm these findings, doctors may eventually use heart imaging not only to predict cardiovascular disease but also to identify people who could benefit from enhanced cancer prevention strategies. This could lead to a more integrated approach to healthcare, where heart health and cancer prevention are addressed together rather than separately.
The research also reinforces the importance of controlling common risk factors. Maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, managing blood pressure, controlling diabetes, and avoiding smoking may help protect against both cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Looking at the evidence as a whole, the study offers a fascinating glimpse into how different diseases may be connected. The long follow-up period and large population strengthen the findings.
However, because the research is observational, it cannot prove cause and effect. More studies are needed before heart MRI findings can be used routinely to predict cancer risk. Even so, the research highlights an exciting new area of medicine and may ultimately change how doctors think about disease prevention in the future.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
Source: UCLA Health.
