Peri-operative heparin: a possible adjuvant to surgery in colo-rectal cancer?
Analysis of data from a randomised trial of adjuvant razoxane involving 603 patients with colo-rectal cancer having curative surgery is reported. The results show that razoxane was ineffective but peri-operative subcutaneous heparin treatment apparently conferred a statistically significant improvement in survival at 5 years, or equivalently a reduction in the risk of death. This beneficial effect is apparent in both razoxane treated and control patients and is not explained by demonstrable differences between heparin and non-heparin treated patients in the distribution of known prognostic factors. Adjustment for these factors slightly increased the apparent magnitude of the beneficial effect.
Kingston
R D
RD
Department of Clinical Studies, Trafford General Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Fielding
J W
JW
Palmer
M K
MK
D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011929:Razoxane / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D011929:Razoxane; D006493:Heparin