Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary care program for the management of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients: a pilot study

Author(s):  
Ilham Benzidia ◽  
Benjamin Crichi ◽  
Claire Montlahuc ◽  
Hanadi Rafii ◽  
Arlette N’Dour ◽  
...  
Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 1425-1425
Author(s):  
Ludwig Traby ◽  
Hannah C. Puhr ◽  
Marietta Kollars ◽  
Kammer Michael ◽  
Gerald Prager ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Venous thromboembolism is a frequent complication in cancer patients and results in a considerable morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanisms leading to the increased thrombotic risk are yet poorly understood. We have previously shown that levels of extracellular vesicles (EV) are elevated in patients with colorectal cancer compared to healthy control individuals (Hron et al, Thromb Haemost 2007;97:119-123). EV originate from blood or endothelial cells, or from the underlying tumor itself. They may contribute to coagulation activation and propagation by exposing tissue factor and by providing a surface for the interaction of coagulation factors. In that study, the number of EV was also positively correlated with levels of D-dimer, a fibrin split product and marker of coagulation activation. We hypothesize that number of EV and levels of D-dimer decline with decreasing tumor load during antineoplastic treatment. Therefore, the study aims at evaluating the long-term effect of chemotherapy on hemostatic system activation in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Methods We conducted a pilot study including patients receiving chemotherapy because of advanced colorectal cancer. All chemotherapy regimens were based on 5-fluorouracilcombined with either oxaliplatin or irinotecan without or with an antibody (bevacizumab in 72%, cetuximab in 11%, and ramucirumab in 5% of patients, respectively). Patients were followed for 3 chemotherapy cycles. The study was approved by the local ethics committee, was conducted according to the Declaration of Helsinki and informed consent was obtained from all study patients. Venous blood was sampled at each cycle immediately before chemotherapy and was centrifuged at 2600 g for 15 minutes. The number of EV was assessed by flow cytometry using a FACSCalibur® flow cytometer with CellQuest™ software (Becton Dickinson) immediately after blood collection and centrifugation in fresh plasma. EV were defined by size (forward scatter, <1 µm) and annexin V binding. Tissue factor positive EV were characterized by an anti-CD142 antibody. Plasma was then frozen and stored at -80°C and was used for determination of markers of coagulation activation (D-dimer, prothrombin fragment f1.2) by commercially available ELISA kits. All outcome variables were log-transformed due to skewed distributions. The paired t-test was used to compare baseline (before the 1st chemotherapy) levels with measurements obtained from the 2nd and 3rd blood sampling. In order to provide a clearer legibility, all data is presented in absolute numbers and all values are given as median (quartiles) if not otherwise stated. Results 18 patients completed 3 cycles of chemotherapy. Their mean (± SD) age was 60.5 (± 12.2) years and 14 (78%) were men. None of the patients developed venous thromboembolism. Table 1 shows the levels of coagulation activation markers and the number of EV at baseline and before the 2nd and 3rd cycle of chemotherapy, respectively. D-dimer levels were 1.22 (0.42-2.31) µg mL-1 at baseline and significantly decreased over the course of treatment. D-dimer levels did not correlate with the number of EV either at baseline or at later time points. The number of EV decreased from 474 (312-617) x 103 mL-1 at baseline to 359 (239-474) x 103 mL-1 before the 3rd cycle. The proportion of tissue factor positive EV was small at baseline and throughout treatment. Levels of prothrombin fragment f1.2 did not change during treatment and did not correlate with number of EV at any time point. Conclusions In patients with advanced colorectal cancer chemotherapy attenuates coagulation activation as indicated by a decline of D-dimer levels and number of EV. These findings warrant further studies in a larger patient population and longer observation time. Table 1 Number of extracellular vesicles (EV) and markers of coagulation activation in plasma of colorectal cancer patients before and during chemotherapy Table 1. Number of extracellular vesicles (EV) and markers of coagulation activation in plasma of colorectal cancer patients before and during chemotherapy Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2018 ◽  
Vol 44 (12) ◽  
pp. 1894-1900 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.T.D. Souwer ◽  
E. Bastiaannet ◽  
S. de Bruijn ◽  
A.J. Breugom ◽  
F. van den Bos ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. e21
Author(s):  
E. Souwer ◽  
E. Bastiaannet ◽  
S. de Bruijn ◽  
A. Breugom ◽  
F. van den Bos ◽  
...  

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (11) ◽  
pp. 2713-2720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrizia Ferroni ◽  
Francesca Martini ◽  
Ilaria Portarena ◽  
Italia Grenga ◽  
Silvia Riondino ◽  
...  

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 818-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob C Easaw ◽  
Susan McCall ◽  
Adrian Azim

Stable cancer patients diagnosed with a pulmonary embolus or deep vein thrombosis are commonly referred to the emergency department for management. This practice strains an already overburdened emergency department and is associated with long wait times and poor disease/injection education for patients. This pilot study sought to determine if stable cancer patients with newly diagnosed cancer-associated thrombosis could be effectively managed by community-based pharmacists who followed an evidence-based protocol to prescribe and initiate low-molecular weight heparin therapy. We hypothesized that this novel care pathway could provide faster patient care with more comprehensive disease education, self-injection training, and follow-up. Fifty-five patients with various cancers, including gastroesophageal, urogenital, breast, brain, and lung were enrolled into this pilot study. We observed that this alternative first-dose treatment pathway provided safe and effective treatment of venous thromboembolism combined with excellent patient satisfaction. Following their interaction with the pharmacist, patients felt confident about their ability to self-inject and about their venous thromboembolism management overall. No occurrences of bleeding or other side-effects were observed. This pilot study demonstrates that community-based pharmacists are capable of delivering complex care services in the outpatient environment, particularly in the management of venous thromboembolism.


2012 ◽  
Vol 03 (03) ◽  
pp. 121-125
Author(s):  
I. Pabinger ◽  
C. Ay

SummaryCancer is a major and independent risk factor of venous thromboembolism (VTE). In clinical practice, a high number of VTE events occurs in patients with cancer, and treatment of cancerassociated VTE differs in several aspects from treatment of VTE in the general population. However, treatment in cancer patients remains a major challenge, as the risk of recurrence of VTE as well as the risk of major bleeding during anticoagulation is substantially higher in patients with cancer than in those without cancer. In several clinical trials, different anticoagulants and regimens have been investigated for treatment of acute VTE and secondary prophylaxis in cancer patients to prevent recurrence. Based on the results of these trials, anticoagulant therapy with low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) has become the treatment of choice in cancer patients with acute VTE in the initial period and for extended and long-term anticoagulation for 3-6 months. New oral anticoagulants directly inhibiting thrombin or factor Xa, have been developed in the past decade and studied in large phase III clinical trials. Results from currently completed trials are promising and indicate their potential use for treatment of VTE. However, the role of the new oral thrombin and factor Xa inhibitors for VTE treatment in cancer patients still has to be clarified in further studies specifically focusing on cancer-associated VTE. This brief review will summarize the current strategies of initial and long-term VTE treatment in patients with cancer and discuss the potential use of the new oral anticoagulants.


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