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Thrombosis and Cancer: The Role of Screening for Occult Cancer and Recognizing the Underlying Biological Mechanisms

Correspondence: Agnes Y. Y. Lee, MD, MSc, FRCPC, Hamilton Health Sciences Henderson Hospital, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8V 1C3; Phone 905-527-4322 ext. 42484; Fax 905-574-7625; Email alee{at}mcmaster.ca

Abstract

The association between cancer and thrombosis is well recognized. What is not known, however, is the exact relationship between these two common medical conditions. Although the development of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in a patient with known cancer is the most common presentation, in some patients, VTE may precede the diagnosis of malignancy by many months. The variation in clinical presentation is likely due to the heterogeneous biology of different tumor types and also reflects the limitations of detection or available diagnostic methods. Accumulating evidence now suggests that critical oncogenic events may also trigger activation of the coagulation cascade, leading to a prothrombotic environment that not only manifests as venous thromboembolic disease but also promotes the growth and progression of the malignancy. This chapter will review the evidence for screening for occult malignancy in patients presenting with unprovoked or idiopathic thrombosis, briefly outline the known biological relationships between malignancy and thrombosis, and summarize the clinical data on the potential anticancer effects of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs).

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