Thrombosis in Cancer Patients

Abstract number: P1002

Ozkan¹ M, Sari² I, Kocyigit¹ I, Er¹ O, Eser² B, Ozkul³ Y, Gokoz¹ G, Cetin² M, Altinbas¹ M

¹¹Erciyes University, Department of Medical Oncology, Kayseri, Turkey ¹¹Erciyes University, Department of Medical Oncology, Kayseri, Turkey ²²Erciyes University, Department of Hematology, Kayseri, Turkey ³³Erciyes University, Department of Genetics, Kayseri, Turkey

Coagulation abnormalities are common in cancer patients and these patients have a substantial risk of thrombosis. Activation of coagulation system might also play important role in tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the laboratory findings related to thrombosis in cancer patients who developed arterial or venous thrombosis during follow up in our department. Between January–December 2004, 24 consecutive cancer patients (16 female, 8 male) with thrombosis were enrolled into the study. Median age was 59 years. Diagnosis of primary cancer was gastrointestinal system cancer (9 colon cancer, 1 esophagus cancer) in 10 patients, 4 nonsmall cell lung cancer, 3 breast cancer, 2 nasopharynx cancer, 2 sarcoma, 1 renal cell carcinoma, 1 malignant mesothelioma, 1 carcinoma of unknown primary. Median duration between diagnosis of cancer and thrombosis was 2.5 months. Thrombosis was detected in veins in 21 patients (18 lower extremity, 1 superior vena cava, 1 inferior vena cava, 1 arm vein), 2 arterial and cardiac in one patient. Tests showed thrombocytopenia in 7 patients, thrombocytosis in 2, decreased levels of Protein C and S in 3 and 4 patients respectively, activated Protein C resistance in 6, abnormal partial thromboplastin time in 7, lupus anticoagulant positivity in 16, decreased antithrombinIII in 6 patients. Genetic evaluation revealed methylenetetrahydrofolate redüktase polimorphism (C677T) heterozygosity in 6 patients and one patient was homozygote. Homozygote patient also had factor V Leiden (G6191A) and protrombin (G202101) mutation. Among acquired risk factors for thrombosis, 17 patients had surgery, 15 chemotherapy, 11 radiotherapy, 8 catheter, 8 biopsi and one hormonal treatment history. This study revealed thrombocytopenia, protein C and S deficiency, APC resistance, antihrombinIII deficiency, lupus anticoagulant positivity as the most common abnormalities in coagulation tests and high risk of thrombosis in female and colon cancer patients.