Impact of thrombosis on standard treatment in solid tumors

Cancer-Associated Venous Thromboembolism in Ambulatory Solid Organ Malignancy Patients: Experience from a Cancer Research Institute

Cancer-associated deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are exceedingly common in patients with cancer. One-fifth of DVT events occur in patients with cancer and it is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer after cancer itself. Data on DVT in cancer patients on medical therapy, especially from Indian experiences, are sparse. Here, we present our experience in ambulatory patients with solid organ cancer. The purpose of the study was to study the incidence of DVT in cancer patients on medical therapy and to analyze probable DVT risk factors. This study was a hospital-based single-arm retrospective collection and analysis of hospital records from patients receiving medical therapy on an outpatient and short-stay basis. From January 2016 to February 2017, adult solid organ cancer patients attending the medical oncology outpatient department (OPD), receiving active anticancer treatment, either oral or injectable, were included. The data was retrieved from the medical records department and the department of radiology. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Twenty-nine out of 1190 patients were documented to have developed DVT during the study period. The incidence of DVT in the outpatient settings was 2.4%, and DVT associated with venous access device in situ was seen in 4.05% (20/493) of the patients. Gynecological, breast, and hepatobiliary malignancies comprised most of the cases. Cancer patients are clearly at increased risk for DVT, but this risk is highly variable. It differs between subgroups of cancer patients. Five points Khorana risk model can predict risk for DVT in the ambulatory cancer patients receiving chemotherapy; however, the routine use of thromboprophylaxis in all cancer patients is not recommended. High-risk patients especially those with venous access devices need careful evaluation and counseling for prompt reporting and recognition of venous thrombosis.

Epidemiology of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis in Asia: A Systematic Review

The epidemiology of cancer associated thrombosis (CAT) in Asia is less well-studied and differs from that in the western countries. Here, we systematically examine population based and hospital-based studies reported between 1995 and 2020 to understand the epidemiology of CAT in Asia. From population-based studies, the estimated incidence of VTE in cancer patients was 1.85–9.88 per 1,000 person-years. The incidence of CAT in Asia is significantly higher than non-cancer associated VTE in the general population and cancer is perhaps the most important risk factor for VTE. Hospital-based studies were heterogeneous in study designs and reveal a wide range of prevalence of VTE among cancer patients at 0.5–44.6% while the cancer prevalence rates among VTE patients ranged from 6.1 to 65.5%. The cancer sites most associated with VTE and risk factors were similar between Asian and Western studies. CAT has a major impact on the survival of patients with cancer in Asia, but thromboprophylaxis is not commonly practiced and validated risk assessment tools are lacking. This study highlights the urgent need for large multinational epidemiological studies in Asia to establish the true burden of CAT and to guide appropriate prevention strategies.

[Incidence and impact of venous thrombosis in the diagnosis and therapeutic management of ovarian cancer]

OBJECTIVE

Ovarian cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE), which worsens overall survival. The main objective of our study was to calculate the incidence of VTE in our population. We analyzed VTE impact on diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, monocentric study in ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer patients, divided into 2 groups (« Presence of VTE » and « Absence of VTE »). A univariate and multivariate analysis of factors associated with VTE was performed, and we compared delays of management in both groups.

RESULTS

Among 157 patients included in the study, 22.9% presented a VTE, and 52.8% were asymptomatic. The VTE was diagnosed prior to any treatment in 61.1% of patients and revealed the ovarian cancer in 27.8% of cases. In multivariate analysis, tumor size (OR=1.1, 95% CI: 1-2.21, P=0.012), malnutrition (OR=3.79, 95% CI: 1.16-12,4, P=0.028) and Ddimer level above 1.5μg/mL (OR=13.8, 95% CI 1.2-152.8, P=0.02) were significantly associated with VTE. No significant difference was found between the two groups in diagnostic or therapeutic strategy, as well as in delays of management.

CONCLUSION

We report a high incidence of VTE in ovarian cancer, including a lot of asymptomatic events. An early diagnosis with clinical examination and Ddimer level could improve its management and its prognosis.