Venous thromboembolic complications in oncological patients: present-day possibilities of effective and safe anticoagulant therapy

Cancer-associated thromboembolic complications in malignant neoplasms are commonly encountered. They deteriorate the course of the underlying disease and are frequent causes of death. The oncological patient is at high risk of not only thrombosis but haemorrhage during anticoagulant therapy. Recent randomized clinical trials have positively appreciated the possibilities of direct oral anticoagulants in treatment and prevention of thromboses in oncological patients. Analysing subgroups in these studies demonstrated that direct oral anticoagulants during long-term administration were at least as effective and safe as vitamin K antagonists. The most significant by the number of cases, duration of therapy, and methodology of analysis are the reports regarding rivaroxaban - an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor. There are also findings obtained in a separate randomized study, confirming efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in treatment of patients with cancer-associated venous thromboembolic complications as compared with therapy with low-molecular-weight heparins. Namely these results formed the basis for the guidelines of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis (SSC ISTH), according to which rivaroxaban may be regarded as an alternative to low-molecular-weight heparins in certain clinical situations.