title: What are the pharmacotherapy options for treating venous thromboembolism in cancer patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in patients with malignancies. The treatment of VTE disorders in cancer patients remains a difficult clinical task.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current evidence on the most appropriate initial and long-term treatment of cancer patients with VTE was addressed, as was the management of recurrent VTE despite anticoagulation, the management of incidentally detected isolated pulmonary embolism (PE), the potential role of the novel direct oral anticoagulants and the impact of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on cancer evolution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LMWHs are the cornerstone of VTE treatment in cancer patients. The intensity and duration of treatment are dependent on several factors that need to be individually evaluated. The novel oral anticoagulants should be investigated more carefully before being routinely implemented in the treatment of cancer-associated VTE. Incidentally detected isolated sub-segmental PE is unlikely to require systematic full-dose anticoagulation. Evidence favoring an impact of LMWH on survival in cancer patients is weak.
authors.affiliation: University of Padua, Department of Medicine, Clinica Medica 2, Vascular Medicine Unit , Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 - Padua , Italy +39 049 8212656 ; +39 049 8218731 ; paoloprandoni@tin.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prandoni
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piovella
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vedovetto
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dalla Valle
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccioli
mesh_terms: D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight