Haemostasis and Malignancy

July 19, 2002
14:00 to 18:00
Terrace Room
Boston Park Plaza Hotel

Chairman:  A. K. Kakkar, UK
Co-chairs:  A. Falanga, Italy; M. Prins, The Netherlands; L. Zacharski, USA

The subcommittee convened at 2 pm

Part I

Work in Progress
Trials of prophylaxis in cancer patients undergoing surgery
  1. M. Rassmussen presented the Danish surgical Prolonged Thromboprophylaxis study.  Ongoing
  2. G. Agnelli presented the Pegassus study on in-hospital prophylaxis with Fondaparinux in surgical cancer patients.  Ongoing
  3. A. Kakkar presented the PRODIGY study of prophylaxis in post-surgical glioma patients receiving fragmin, on behalf of M. Levine.  To start
Trials of prophylaxis in cancer patients receiving medical oncological therapy
  1.  S. Haas presented the TOPIC I and II studies on behalf of the investigators.  These protocols are evaluating Certoparin against placebo in the prevention of VTE in breast or lung cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.  Ongoing
Prophylaxis of central catheter related thrombosis.  Ongoing
  1. A. Young gave an update on the WARP study of warfarin prophylaxis.  Ongoing
  2. A. Kakkar gave an update on behalf of the investigators of the Pharmacia study evaluating Dalteparin for prevention of catheter related thrombosis.  Complete
  3. G. Agnelli presented the Ethics study evaluating Enoxaparin for prevention of line thrombosis.  Ongoing
  4. A. Falanga presented a registry of catheter related thrombosis, CATHEM, in hematological malignancy in Italy.  Ongoing
  5. G. Agnelli presented the ARITOS registry of surgical cancer prophylaxis.
Treatment of VTE in cancer
  1. A. Lee updated the CLOT trial of prolonged Dalteparin for treatment of acute DVT.  Complete
  2. S. Deitcher updated the ONCENOX trial of Enoxaparin for treatment of acute DVT.  Discontinued
Antithrombotics and Survival
  1. A. Kakkar presented the FAMOUS study evaluating Dalteparin for the prolongation of survival in patients with advanced solid tumor malignancy.  Complete
  2. H. Buller presented the MALT study evaluating Nadroparin for prolongation of survival in advanced cancer.  Ongoing
A. Kakkar presented a summary of the 1st registry of clinical trials of anti-thrombotic therapy in cancer patients.  Its style and content were approved.
Part II.

Basic Science
Prof. J. Fareed presented an update on ongoing studies of assessment of hemostatic markers in cancer patients receiving novel anti-angiogenic therapeutic agents; in vitro studies on endothelial cell function; and markers in cancer patients receiving low molecular weight heparin therapy.

Prof. A. Falanga presented a summary of principal presentations from the First Bergamo Cancer and Thrombosis Issues Conference held last November focusing on areas of potential translation research.

Part III.

Guidelines
M. Prins presented an outline of the process the subcommittee might adopt in preparation of any future guidelines.  A discussion followed during which it was decided the subcommittee should concentrate future activities on promoting/ facilitating clinical trials in cancer on thrombosis, continue to raise awareness of the special problems in these area, assist in trial design issues, and promote dissemination of educational activities.

The meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm