Is there a recognised cardio-oncology group or society in your country?
Türkiye has an active cardio-oncology community led by the Turkish Society of Cardiology (TSC) Cardio-Oncology Project Group. The group plays a central role in promoting education, research, and multidisciplinary collaboration, while supporting the development of more structured cardio-oncology services across the country.
Clinical Practice
Cardio-oncology is not yet established as a formal subspecialty or fellowship within cardiology training in Türkiye. Nevertheless, multidisciplinary collaboration between cardiology, medical oncology, and haematology specialists has developed in several high-volume tertiary centres, particularly within large city hospitals and university institutions.
Although dedicated cardio-oncology units are not yet widely available, these centres provide specialised care through locally organised referral pathways. At present, patient management largely depends on individual institutional initiatives rather than a coordinated national network. One of the main objectives of the TSC Cardio-Oncology Project Group is to facilitate the development and harmonisation of multidisciplinary cardio-oncology services nationwide.
Key challenges include limited resources, a shortage of dedicated cardio-oncology centres and teams, and the absence of standardised national pathways. Despite these barriers, awareness of cardio-oncology and professional interest in the field have increased considerably over the past few years, contributing to the gradual expansion of clinical activities.
Education
Educational initiatives in cardio-oncology have expanded substantially in recent years and are primarily coordinated by the TSC Cardio-Oncology Project Group.
Following the publication of the 2022 ESC Cardio-Oncology Guidelines, a Turkish translation was produced to support national dissemination and facilitate implementation in clinical practice. The Project Group subsequently organised its first Cardio-Oncology Basic Training Meeting in September 2022, followed by a second edition in April 2025. These programmes were designed to provide general cardiologists with a solid foundation in the principles of cardio-oncology.
Between 2023 and 2025, eleven electronic cardio-oncology bulletins were published through the Turkish Society of Cardiology. In addition, practical web-based tools and educational resources were developed to support cardiovascular risk assessment before cancer therapy and to provide information on the cardiovascular adverse effects of commonly used oncological treatments.
Awareness initiatives have also included regular educational videos distributed through official TSC communication channels. Dedicated cardio-oncology sessions and symposia are now held annually during the TSC National Congress, Kardiyobahar Update Meetings, and other national scientific events.
Several members of the Project Group have obtained International Cardio-Oncology Society (IC-OS) certification and are working towards the certification of their institutions. Future educational plans include the publication of a dedicated cardio-oncology supplement in a national journal and the launch of a structured five-module training programme in 2026, culminating in official TSC certification.
Research
Cardio-oncology research in Türkiye has historically been limited to relatively small, single-centre observational studies. However, significant efforts are underway to strengthen national research activity and generate data representative of the Turkish population.
A major milestone was the initiation of the CARPE-DIEM Trial (CArdiovascular Risk Profile and Events DurIng TrEatMent of Breast Cancer Patients in TuRkey) in 2023. This prospective multicentre registry aims to evaluate cardiovascular risk profiles and cardiovascular events occurring during breast cancer treatment across multiple centres throughout the country. The registry is expected to be completed in 2026.
Looking ahead, the TSC Cardio-Oncology Project Group seeks to expand the number of prospective multicentre studies in cardio-oncology, with the goal of producing robust national evidence and supporting the future development of clinical practice in Türkiye.
