Dataset Information

Thromboembolism in gastrointestinal cancers.

ABSTRACT: The link between thromboembolism and cancer has been recognized for over 100 years. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with considerable morbidity in patients with cancer, with emerging research also indicating a detrimental effect on survival. Investigations aimed at improving outcomes for patients with cancer have focused on the role of low molecular weight heparin in primary and secondary prevention of VTE and in improving patient survival. Important fundamental questions remain unanswered, however, and a significant line of research needs to be dedicated to investigating VTE in GI cancers. The effect of VTE on survival needs to be clarified, as does the role of anticoagulation in this patient population. Opportunities for additional research include investigating methods to identify patients at risk of developing VTE and developing new strategies and therapeutic interventions to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with VTE. This review focuses on the current understanding of VTE related to gastrointestinal cancers and directions of interest in research specific to GI cancers and VTE.

SUBMITTER: Tetzlaff ED

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2632566 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Thromboembolism in gastrointestinal cancers.

Tetzlaff Eric D ED Cheng Jonathan D JD Ajani Jaffer A JA

Gastrointestinal cancer research : GCR 20081101 6

The link between thromboembolism and cancer has been recognized for over 100 years. Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with considerable morbidity in patients with cancer, with emerging research also indicating a detrimental effect on survival. Investigations aimed at improving outcomes for patients with cancer have focused on the role of low molecular weight heparin in primary and secondary prevention of VTE and in improving patient survival. Important fundamental questions remain unans ...[more]

PMID: 19259275

Similar Datasets

Project description:AimTo characterise venous thromboembolism (VTE) in gastrointestinal cancer and assess the clinical utility of risk stratification scoring.MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis using electronic patient records of 910 gastro-oesophageal (GO) cancer and 1299 colorectal cancer (CRC) patients referred to a tertiary cancer centre to identify the incidence of VTE, its relationship to chemotherapy and impact on survival. VTE risk scores were calculated using the Khorana index. Patients were classified as low risk (0 points), intermediate risk (1 to 2 points) or high risk (3 points). Data was analysed to determine the sensitivity of the Khorana score to predict VTE.ResultsThe incidence of VTE was 8.9% for CRC patients and 9.7% for GO cancer patients. Pulmonary emboli (PE) were more common in advanced than in localised CRC (50% vs 21% of events respectively) and lower limb deep vein thrombosis (DVT) were more common in localised than in advanced CRC (62% vs 39% of events respectively). The median time to VTE from cancer diagnosis was 8.3 mo for CRC patients compared to 6.7 mo in GO cancer. In localised CRC median time to VTE was 7.1 mo compared with 10.1 mo in advanced CRC. In contrast in GO cancer, the median time to VTE was 12.5 mo in localised disease and 6.8 mo in advanced disease. No survival difference was seen between patients with and without VTE in this cohort. The majority of patients with CRC in whom VTE was diagnosed had low or intermediate Khorana risk score (94% for localised and 97% in advanced CRC). In GO cancer, all patients scored either intermediate or high risk due to the primary site demonstrating a limitation of the risk assessment score in discriminating high and low risk patients with GO cancers. Additional risk factors were identified in this cohort including surgery, chemotherapy or hospital admission. Overall, 81% of patients with CRC and 77% of patients with GO cancer had one or more of these factors within 4 wk prior to diagnosis VTE. These should be factored into clinical risk assessment scores.ConclusionThe Khorana score has low sensitivity for thrombotic events in CRC and cannot discriminate low risk patients in high risk cancer sites such as GO cancer.

Dataset Information

Thromboembolism in gastrointestinal cancers.

Publications

Thromboembolism in gastrointestinal cancers.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets