Extended treatment with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants versus low-molecular-weight heparins in cancer patients following venous thromboembolism. A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) are the drug of choice for treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), however non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) seem to be a reasonable alternative. We investigated the safety and efficacy of NOAC versus LMWH in patients with a history of CAT.

METHODS: In a prospective cohort study 128 consecutive patients with active cancer who experienced CAT were enrolled following LMWH treatment for ≥3 months. Symptomatic recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE), bleeding and death were recorded during follow-up.

RESULTS: 65 (50.8%) patients were switched to NOAC and 63 (49.2%) continued with LMWH. During a median follow-up of 17 (interquartile range, 15-21) months, recurrent VTE was observed in 6 (9.2%) patients on NOAC and in 12 (19.0%) on LMWH (hazard ratio [HR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-1.16). The rate of major bleeding was 9.2% and 4.8%, respectively (HR 2.00, 95% CI 0.50-8.00). The median time to bleeding was shorter in patients on NOAC (3 [2.25-5.5] months) versus on LMWH (9 [6.5-13.0] months). The mortality rates were similar in both groups (15.4% versus 15.9%, respectively, HR 0.76, 95% CI 0.32-1.84).

CONCLUSIONS: In patients following CAT, extended treatment with NOAC, compared with LMWH, appears to be associated with similar effectiveness and safety.