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Clinical and Translational Oncology
Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology 9/2018

01-09-2018 | Review Article

Pleiotropic effects of heparins: does anticoagulant treatment increase survival in cancer patients?

Authors: I. García-Escobar, C. Beato-Zambrano, J. Muñoz Langa, E. Brozos Vázquez, B. Obispo Portero, D. Gutiérrez-Abad, A. J. Muñoz Martín, On behalf of the Cancer and Thrombosis Working Group of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)

Published in: Clinical and Translational Oncology | Issue 9/2018

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Abstract

The association between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cancer has been recognized for more than 100 years. Numerous studies have been performed to investigate strategies to decrease VTE incidence and to establish whether treating VTE impacts cancer progression and overall survival. Accordingly, it is important to understand the role of the hemostatic system in tumorigenesis and progression, as there is abundant evidence associating it with cell survival and proliferation, tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and dissemination, and metastasis formation. In attempts to further the scientific evidence, several studies examine survival benefits in cancer patients treated with anticoagulant therapy, specifically treatment with vitamin K antagonists, unfractionated heparin, and low-molecular-weight heparin. Several studies and meta-analyses have been conducted with a special focus on brain tumors. However, no definitive conclusions have been obtained, and more well-designed clinical trials are needed.
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Metadata
Title
Pleiotropic effects of heparins: does anticoagulant treatment increase survival in cancer patients?
Authors
I. García-Escobar
C. Beato-Zambrano
J. Muñoz Langa
E. Brozos Vázquez
B. Obispo Portero
D. Gutiérrez-Abad
A. J. Muñoz Martín
On behalf of the Cancer and Thrombosis Working Group of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM)
Publication date
01-09-2018
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Clinical and Translational Oncology / Issue 9/2018
Print ISSN: 1699-048X
Electronic ISSN: 1699-3055
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-018-1835-2

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