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Pavlovic D, Niciforovic D, Markovic M, Papic D. Cancer-Associated Thrombosis: Epidemiology, Pathophysiological Mechanisms, Treatment, and Risk Assessment. Clin Med Insights Oncol 2023; 17:11795549231220297. [PMID: 38152726 PMCID: PMC10752082 DOI: 10.1177/11795549231220297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer patients represent a growing population with drastically difficult care and a lowered quality of life, especially due to the heightened risk of vast complications. Thus, it is well established so far that one of the most prominent complications in individuals with cancer is venous thromboembolism. Since there are various improved methods for screening and diagnosing cancer and its complications, the incidence of cancer-associated thrombosis has been on the rise in recent years. Therefore, the high mortality and morbidity rates among these patients are not a surprise. Consequently, there is an excruciating need for understanding the mechanisms behind this complex process, as well as the imperative for adequate analysis and application of the most suitable steps for cancer-associated thrombosis prevention. There are various and numerous mechanisms offering potential answers to cancer-associated thrombosis, some of which have already been elucidated in various preclinical and clinical scenarios, yet further and more elaborate studies are crucial to understanding and preventing this complex and harsh clinical entity. This article elaborates on the growing incidence, mortality, morbidity, and risk factors of cancer-associated thrombosis while emphasizing the pathophysiological mechanisms in the light of various types of cancer in patients and summarizes the most novel therapy and prevention guidelines recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dragica Pavlovic
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Danijela Niciforovic
- Center for Internal Oncology, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marina Markovic
- Center for Internal Oncology, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Dragana Papic
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
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Li X, Sun X, Fang B, Leng Y, Sun F, Wang Y, Wang Q, Jin J, Yang M, Xu B, Fang Z, Chen L, Chen Z, Yang Q, Zhang K, Ye Y, Geng H, Sun Z, Hao D, Huang H, Wang X, Jing H, Ma L, Pan X, Chen W, Li J. Development and validation of a new risk assessment model for immunomodulatory drug-associated venous thrombosis among Chinese patients with multiple myeloma. Thromb J 2023; 21:105. [PMID: 37794471 PMCID: PMC10552366 DOI: 10.1186/s12959-023-00534-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with multiple myeloma (MM) receiving immunomodulatory drugs (IMiDs) are at risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE), a serious complication. There is no established clinical model for predicting VTE in the Chinese population. We develop a new risk assessment model (RAM) for IMiD-associated VTE in Chinese MM patients. METHODS We retrospectively selected 1334 consecutive MM patients receiving IMiDs from 16 medical centers in China and classified them randomly into the derivation and validation cohorts. A multivariate Cox regression model was used for analysis. RESULTS The overall incidence of IMiD-related VTE in Chinese MM patients was 6.1%. Independent predictive factors of VTE (diabetes, ECOG performance status, erythropoietin-stimulating agent use, dexamethasone use, and VTE history or family history of thrombosis) were identified and merged to develop the RAM. The model identified approximately 30% of the patients in each cohort at high risk for VTE. The hazard ratios (HRs) were 6.08 (P < 0.001) and 6.23 (P < 0.001) for the high-risk subcohort and the low-risk subcohort, respectively, within both the derivation and validation cohorts. The RAM achieved satisfactory discrimination with a C statistic of 0.64. The stratification approach of the IMWG guidelines yielded respective HRs of 1.77 (P = 0.053) and 1.81 (P = 0.063). The stratification approach of the SAVED score resulted in HRs of 3.23 (P = 0.248) and 1.65 (P = 0.622), respectively. The IMWG guideline and the SAVED score-based method yielded C statistics of 0.58 and 0.51, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The new RAM outperformed the IMWG guidelines and the SAVED score and could potentially guide the VTE prophylaxis strategy for Chinese MM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaozhe Li
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiuli Sun
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Baijun Fang
- Department of Haematology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yun Leng
- Department of Haematology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fangfang Sun
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yaomei Wang
- Department of Haematology, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Haematology, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, China
| | - Jie Jin
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Yang
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhihong Fang
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lijuan Chen
- Department of Haematology, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Haematology, Jiangsu Provincial People's Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Qimei Yang
- Department of Haematology, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Kejie Zhang
- Department of Haematology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yinhai Ye
- Department of Haematology, Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui Geng
- Department of Haematology, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Zhiqiang Sun
- Department of Haematology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dan Hao
- Department of Haematology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Hongming Huang
- Department of Haematology, Nantong University Hospital, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaotao Wang
- Department of Haematology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical College, Guilin, China
| | - Hongmei Jing
- Department of Haematology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Ma
- Department of Haematology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xueyi Pan
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenming Chen
- Department of Haematology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Haematology, First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, No. 58 Zhongshan Er Road, Guangzhou, 510000, Guangdong, China.
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Muñoz AJ, Souto JC, Lecumberri R, Obispo B, Sanchez A, Aparicio J, Aguayo C, Gutierrez D, Palomo AG, Fanjul V, Del Rio-Bermudez C, Viñuela-Benéitez MC, Hernández-Presa MÁ. Development of a predictive model of venous thromboembolism recurrence in anticoagulated cancer patients using machine learning. Thromb Res 2023; 228:181-188. [PMID: 37348318 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2023.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Patients with cancer and venous thromboembolism (VTE) show a high risk of VTE recurrence during anticoagulant treatment. This study aimed to develop a predictive model to assess the risk of VTE recurrence within 6 months at the moment of primary VTE diagnosis in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the EHRead® technology, based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning (ML), the unstructured data in electronic health records from 9 Spanish hospitals between 2014 and 2018 were extracted. Both clinically- and ML-driven feature selection were performed to identify predictors for VTE recurrence. Logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), and random forest (RF) algorithms were used to train different prediction models, which were subsequently validated in a hold-out data set. RESULTS A total of 16,407 anticoagulated cancer patients with diagnosis of VTE were identified (54.4 % male and median age 70). Deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and metastases were observed in 67.2 %, 26.6 %, and 47.7 % of the patients, respectively. During the study follow-up, 11.4 % of the patients developed a recurrent VTE, being more frequent in patients with lung cancer. Feature selection and model training based on ML identified primary pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, metastasis, adenocarcinoma, hemoglobin and serum creatinine levels, platelet and leukocyte count, family history of VTE, and patients' age as predictors of VTE recurrence within 6 months of VTE diagnosis. The LR model had an AUC-ROC (95 % CI) of 0.66 (0.61, 0.70), the DT of 0.69 (0.65, 0.72) and the RF of 0.68 (0.63, 0.72). CONCLUSIONS This is the first ML-based predictive model designed to predict 6-months VTE recurrence in patients with cancer. These results hold great potential to assist clinicians to identify the high-risk patients and improve their clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andres J Muñoz
- Gregorio Marañón Health Research Institute, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Carlos Souto
- Hematology Department, Santa Creu I Sant Pau Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Lecumberri
- Hematology Service, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain; CIBERCV, Carlos III Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Berta Obispo
- Oncology Department, Infanta Leonor Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Sanchez
- Oncology Department, Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jorge Aparicio
- Oncology Department, Polytechnic and University Hospital of La Fé, Valencia, Spain
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Alsheef M, Bazarbashi S, Warsi A, Alfraih F, Almoomen A, Osman A, Owaidah T. The Saudi Consensus for the Management of Cancer-Associated Thromboembolism: A Modified Delphi-Based Study. TH OPEN : COMPANION JOURNAL TO THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS 2023; 7:e14-e29. [PMID: 36751300 PMCID: PMC9825204 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Background Cancer is a well-known risk factor of preventable thromboembolic disease. This study aims to provide guidance on the prevention and management of cancer-associated thrombosis (CT) that tailors prophylactic and therapeutic options for medical and surgical oncology patients presenting to health care settings in Saudi Arabia. Methods The present consensus was developed in concordance with the modified Delphi-based approach, which incorporates a face-to-face meeting between two voting rounds to gain experts' feedback on the proposed statements. All experts were either oncologists, hematologists, or hemato-oncologist with an active clinical and research profile in hemato-oncology. Results The experts highlighted that the comparatively high incidence of inherited thrombophilia among the Saudi population may account for a higher CT burden in the Kingdom than in other parts of the world. However, due to the lack of literature that assesses CT in Saudi Arabia, primary venous thromboembolism prophylaxis should be tailored according to a valid risk assessment of cancer patients and should be implemented in routine practice. For hospitalized medical oncology patients, the experts agreed that prophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) should be offered, regardless of the presence of acute illness. For ambulatory medical oncology patients, LMWH or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) prophylaxis should be offered for high-risk patients. Concerning surgical patients, they agreed that all oncology patients undergoing surgery should be offered thromboprophylaxis. In terms of secondary prophylaxis, the experts recommended continuing a prophylactic dose of anticoagulant (LMWH or DOAC), for an appropriate period depending on the cancer type and stage. Finally, they also provided a set of statements on management of CT in Saudi Arabia. Conclusion The present modified Delphi-based study combined the best available evidence and clinical experience with the current health care policies and settings in Saudi Arabia to build a consensus statement on the epidemiology, prevention, and management of CT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alsheef
- Department of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Shouki Bazarbashi
- College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University Medical Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf Warsi
- Department of Haematology, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Alqura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Feras Alfraih
- College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University Medical Oncology, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ahmed Osman
- Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Riyadh, Saudia Arabia
| | - Tarek Owaidah
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ciuffini L, Wang T, Lodigiani C, Carrier M. Thromboprophylaxis of cancer patients undergoing systemic therapy in the ambulatory setting. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2022; 35:101351. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beha.2022.101351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Faiz AS, Guo S, Kaveney A, Philipp CS. Risk of venous thromboembolism and endocrine therapy in older women with breast cancer in the United States. Blood Coagul Fibrinolysis 2021; 32:373-381. [PMID: 33973894 DOI: 10.1097/mbc.0000000000001043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Our aim was to evaluate the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor in older women with breast cancer in the United States. The SEER-Medicare-linked database (2007--2013) was used for women of at least 65 years of age diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Logistic regression was used to examine unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the risk of VTE. There were 178 059 women aged at least 65 years with breast cancer in the United States. Twenty-two thousand and forty-two (12.4%) women received tamoxifen, 64 384 (36.2%) women received aromatase inhibitors and 17 419 (9.8%) women received chemotherapy. Adjusted OR = 1.18 (95% CI 1.05--1.32) for VTE with tamoxifen for 3 years or less compared with tamoxifen use more than 3 years and OR = 1.07 (95% CI 1.05--1.16) for VTE with aromatase inhibitors 4 years or less compared with aromatase inhibitors use for more than 4 years. White women had OR = 1.19 (95% CI 1.05--1.35) and black women had OR = 1.07 (95% CI 0.76--1.51) for VTE with 3 years or less tamoxifen use compared with longer use. White women had OR = 1.09 (95% CI 1.00--1.18) and black women had OR = 1.07 (95% CI 0.86--1.34) for VTE with 4 years or less aromatase inhibitors use compared with longer use. Chemotherapy was associated with an increased risk of VTE (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.69--1.86). Chemotherapy combined with tamoxifen had OR = 1.64 (95% CI 1.45--1.86) and chemotherapy combined with aromatase inhibitors had OR = 1.71 95% CI 1.59-1.84). The study may help to identify a treatment profile for VTE risk that may facilitate VTE prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambarina S Faiz
- Division of Hematology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
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Leiva O, Newcomb R, Connors JM, Al-Samkari H. Cancer and thrombosis: new insights to an old problem. JOURNAL DE MÉDECINE VASCULAIRE 2020; 45:6S8-6S16. [PMID: 33276943 DOI: 10.1016/s2542-4513(20)30514-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with cancer and portends a poor prognosis. Our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of VTE in cancer has advanced since Trousseau first described hypercoagulability in patients with malignancy and Virchow described his famous triad of thrombosis formation. Malignancy itself induces a thrombophilic state by increasing the risk of venous stasis, endothelial injury and an imbalance of pro and anti-thrombotic factors leading to a hypercoaguable state. Additional insults to this thrombotic balance are introduced by patient-specific, treatment related and tumor-specific factors. The importance of understanding the factors associated with increased thrombosis in cancer is paramount in order to adequately identify patients who will benefit from thromboprophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Leiva
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - R Newcomb
- Division of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - J M Connors
- Hematology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - H Al-Samkari
- Division of Hematology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
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Faiz A, Guo S, Kaveney A, Philipp C. Venous thrombosis and breast cancer in older women: Racial differences in risk factors and mortality. Thromb Res 2018; 171:130-135. [DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2018.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Brand JS, Hedayati E, Humphreys K, Ludvigsson JF, Johansson ALV, Bergh J, Hall P, Czene K. Chemotherapy, Genetic Susceptibility, and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Breast Cancer Patients. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 22:5249-5255. [PMID: 27803117 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-16-1110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is highly heritable and a serious complication of cancer and its treatment. We examined the individual and joint effects of chemotherapy and genetic susceptibility on VTE risk in patients with breast cancer. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN A Swedish population-based study including 4,261 women diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer between 2001 and 2008 in Stockholm, followed until 2012. Risk stratification by chemotherapy and genetic susceptibility [a polygenic risk score (PRS), including nine established VTE loci] was assessed using Kaplan-Meier and flexible parametric survival analyses, adjusting for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics. RESULTS In total, 276 patients experienced a VTE event during a median follow-up of 7.6 years. Patients receiving chemotherapy [HR (95% CI) = 1.98; 1.40-2.80] and patients in the highest 5% of the PRS [HR (95% CI) = 1.90; 1.24-2.91] were at increased risk of developing VTE. Chemotherapy and PRS acted independently on VTE risk and the 1-year cumulative incidence in patients carrying both risk factors was 9.5% compared with 1.3% in patients not having these risk factors (P < 0.001). Stratified analyses by age showed that the risk-increasing effect of PRS was stronger in older patients (P interaction = 0.04), resulting in an excess risk among genetically susceptible patients receiving chemotherapy aged ≥ 60 years (1-year cumulative incidence = 25.0%). CONCLUSIONS Risk stratification by chemotherapy and genetic susceptibility identifies patients with breast cancer at high VTE risk, who could potentially benefit from thromboprophylaxis. Our results further suggest that genetic testing is more informative in older patients with breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5249-55. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith S Brand
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Elham Hedayati
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Keith Humphreys
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas F Ludvigsson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Pediatrics, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Anna L V Johansson
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Bergh
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Cancer Centre Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Hall
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kamila Czene
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Ay C, Pabinger I, Cohen AT. Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism: Burden, mechanisms, and management. Thromb Haemost 2016; 117:219-230. [PMID: 27882374 DOI: 10.1160/th16-08-0615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 264] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a significant health problem in the general population but especially in cancer patients. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology and burden of the disease, the pathophysiology of cancer-associated VTE, and the clinical treatment options for both primary prevention and acute treatment. Overall, the development of VTE in cancer patients is related to increases in morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. However, the incidence of cancer-associated VTE varies due to patient-related factors (e.g. thrombophilia, comorbidities, performance status, history of venous diseases), tumour-related factors (e.g. cancer site, stage, grade), and treatment-related factors (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, anti-angiogenesis treatment, hormonal and supportive treatment). Furthermore, blood count parameters (e.g. platelets and leukocytes) and biomarkers (e.g. soluble P-selectin and D-dimer) are predictive markers for the risk of VTE in cancer patients and have been used to enhance risk stratification. Evidence suggests that cancer itself is associated with a state of hypercoagulability, driven in part by the release of procoagulant factors, such as tissue factor, from malignant tissue as well as by inflammation-driven activation of endothelial cells, platelets, and leukocytes. In general, low-molecular-weight heparin (LWMH) monotherapy is the standard of care for the management of cancer-associated VTE, as vitamin K antagonists are less effective in cancer patients. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) offer a potentially promising treatment option for cancer patients with VTE, but recommendations concerning the routine use of DOACs should await head-to-head studies with LMWH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cihan Ay
- Dr. Cihan Ay, MD, Medical University of Vienna, Department of Medicine I,, Clinical Division of Haematology and Haemostaseology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Tel.: +43 1 40400 44100, Fax: +43 1 40400 40300, E-mail:
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