Stroke Among Cancer Patients: Exploring Shared Pathways and Prognoses

Neurological and oncological intersections are increasingly relevant in medical research due to rising survival rates from cancer, which inadvertently elevate the risk of associated complications such as strokes. Approximately one in ten ischemic stroke victims also suffer from concurrent cancer, a statistic anticipated to increase with the advancements in cancer treatments that prolong survival. Recent studies reveal an emergence of stroke within two years of a cancer diagnosis in an additional 3-5% of cases. These include strokes that coincide with specific cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiation, which could augment stroke risk through various mechanisms, including the induction of hypercoagulable states. Moreover, certain cancers have shown a high propensity to cause vascular complications, thus exacerbating the likelihood of stroke.

This Research Topic aims to collate and synthesize comprehensive data on the prevalence, prognosis, and predictors of stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) in cancer patients (cerebral and non-cerebral tumours), constituting a subgroup with unique clinical challenges. Understanding the bi-directional influences of cancer and stroke, particularly the epidemiological patterns and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, is crucial. It seeks to delineate the factors that predict stroke occurrence in cancer patients, examining both direct and indirect influences like coagulopathies and infection-driven risks. Furthermore, it aims to examine the effectiveness of various stroke prevention and management strategies in this vulnerable population, emphasizing the need for adapted clinical protocols that accommodate the intricate needs of patients suffering concurrently from cancer and stroke.

To gather further insights concerning the interplay between these two serious health conditions, we welcome the submission of any type of manuscript supported by the journal that focuses on, but is not limited to, the following themes:

· Prevalence, incidence, and mortality of stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic) among individuals with cancer (brain tumours and extracranial tumours)
· Impact of chemotherapy, immunotherapies (such as checkpoint inhibitors and CAR T-cell therapies), and radiotherapy on stroke risk
· Shared risk factors between ischemic strokes and oncological conditions
· Pathophysiological mechanisms elevating stroke risks in cancer patients
· Identification and evaluation of clinical predictors for stroke in oncological settings
· Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for stroke prevention and patient management in cancer sufferers
· Detailed prognosis factors and clinical predictors of cancer-associated stroke

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: cancer, stroke, oncology, stroke tumor, stroke coagulopathy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.