Cancer patients have a significant risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE). In addition to being the second leading cause of death in this population (next to cancer itself), it also negatively impacts individuals’ quality of life.
The key to treatment of VTE is anticoagulation; however, cancer patients also have an increased risk of bleeding when anticoagulated compared to those patients without cancer. In recent years, our armamentarium for treatment of VTE has increased with the introduction of first low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) and in the past several years, the direct oral anticoagulants (DOACS). This has allowed more treatment choices for anticoagulation, but especially in the cancer population has prompted questions regarding bleeding, thrombosis recurrence, potential drug-drug interactions and barriers, and equity for access.
In response to this issue, the Hemostasis Study Group has recently published a special collection of articles in Supportive Care in Cancer entitled “Practical Aspects of Cancer Associated Thrombosis and Related Complications”.
Edited by Dr Carmen Escalante, the collection includes 12 articles authored by various study group members. Topics include the complexity and clinical significance of drug-drug interactions; risks, diagnosis, and management of recurrent VTE; anticoagulation and bleeding in the cancer patient; VTE and COVID-19; and more.
