title: Adjuvant therapy in breast cancer and venous thromboembolism.
abstract: Breast cancer patients are considered to be at relatively low risk of developing a TEE. The highest incidence of VTE events occurs in metastatic breast cancer patients likely due to extension of disease, immobility for pathologic bone fractures, cancer cachexia and venous compression by the tumour mass. Although thrombosis is less common in patients with early stage cancer compared to those with more advanced disease, it does occur and is clinically challenging. The adjuvant setting is of particular interest in order to assess the specific thrombogenic potential of systemic chemotherapy, because of the low tumor burden with only microscopic tumor foci at the time of treatment administration. This review summarizes risk factors, incidence and strategies to avoid VTE in breast cancer patients receiving adjuvant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Medical Oncology, Ospedali Riuniti, 24100 Bergamo, Italy. mariomandala@tin.it
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mandalà
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tondini
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D005165:Factor V / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017354:Point Mutation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; C095381:factor V Leiden; D005165:Factor V