Prophylaxis and therapy of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer

Patients with lung cancer experience elevated risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). A hypercoagulable state occurs due to the ability

of tumor cells to activate the coagulation system. Prothrombotic factors include the ability of tumor cells to produce and secrete procoagulant

substances and inflammatory cytokines, and the physical interaction between tumor cell and blood. Other mechanisms of

thrombus promotion in malignancy include surgery, metastatic disease and use of chemotherapeutic drugs in combination with novel

targeted drugs. Cancer patients with thrombosis have a shorter life expectancy than cancer patients without this complication. The

occurrence of VTE worsens the quality of life of cancer patients and may delay, interrupt, or completely halt the cancer therapy. Identification

of patients most at risk for VTE, followed by effective prophylaxis and treatment, may have a significant impact on morbidity,

delivery of cancer therapy, and, above all mortality in cancer patients.

Keywords: cancer, venous thromboembolism, prophylaxis