title: Clinical studies with anticoagulants to improve survival in cancer patients.
abstract: Cancer is linked with hypercoagulability and risk of thrombosis and this close association was recognized by Armand Trousseau in 1865. The relation between cancer and blood coagulation is reciprocal: cancer induces a hypercoagulable state and predisposes to thrombosis and activation of platelets, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis interfere with tumor cell biology, tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastatic process. In the present article, we analyze the clinical trials which assessed the influence of anticoagulant treatment on the survival of patients with cancer. The available data show that low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) tend to be more effective and safer than vitamin K antagonists (VKA) in improving survival in patients with cancer. The beneficial effect of anticoagulation with either LMWHs or VKA is not universal for all patients with cancer. There are some histological types of cancers which, at early stages, appear to be more sensitive than others to the effect of anticoagulant treatment. The available clinical trials, although limited, are encouraging for the beneficial effect of anticoagulant treatment on the survival of cancer patients. More clinical trials are needed, targeting groups of patients homogenous regarding the type of cancer, the stage of the disease and life expectancy. The forthcoming clinical trials have to address some issues regarding the optimal dose, the timing and the duration of treatment with LMWH in relation to chemotherapy or other anticancer therapies.
authors.affiliation: EA3499, Faculty of Medicine, University Pierre and Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France. grigoris.gerotziafas@tnn.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Grigoris T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Gerotziafas
authors.forename: Chryssoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatmi
authors.forename: Meyer-Michel
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Samama
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Elalamy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000139:chemically induced; D006493:Heparin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015201:Meta-Analysis as Topic; D051379:Mice; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012107:Research Design; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D014812:Vitamin K; D014859:Warfarin; D006493:Heparin