Treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer: What news from clinical trials?

Melina Verso, Laura Franco, Michela Giustozzi, Cecilia Becattini, Giancarlo Agnelli

Journal: Thrombosis research 2018;164 Suppl 1():S168-S171

PMID: 29703477

Full Text on Elsevier Science View on PubMed

Abstract

About 15% of patients with cancer experience one or more episodes of venous thromboembolism (VTE) during the course of their disease. In patients with cancer, VTE has a substantial impact on the quality of life and care. Current guidelines recommend low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) as first choice therapy for long-term anticoagulation in cancer patients with VTE. However, there are several practical issues concerning the long-term use of these anticoagulants. In the last years, several direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have emerged as alternatives to heparins and vitamin K antagonists for the treatment of VTE, but data regarding both efficacy and safety of DOACs in the subgroup of patients with cancer treatments were limited. The results of two studies evaluating the clinical benefit of treatment of VTE with direct oral anticoagulants in patients with cancer have been recently presented. Several studies comparing DOACs with LMWH are currently ongoing.

Address: Internal Vascular and Emergency Medicine - Stroke Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: [email protected].; Internal Vascular and Emergency Medicine - Stroke Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.01.031

Link outs

Free resources

Medical:

https://medlineplus.gov/bloodthinners.html

Other Literature Sources:

https://scite.ai/reports/29703477

Subscription / membership required

Full Text Sources:

MeSH Terms: Anticoagulants, Humans, Neoplasms, Venous Thromboembolism