DocWire NewsLonger Edoxaban Regimen Improves Thrombosis Prevention in Patients with Cancer

The researchers noted that, in cancer patients with isolated distal DVT, 12 months was superior to 3 months for an edoxaban treatment with respect to the composite outcome of a symptomatic recurrent VTE or VTE-related death.

A recent study published in Circulation has shed light on the optimal duration of anticoagulation therapy for patients with cancer and isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The study, led by Yugo Yamashita, MD, PhD, of Kyoto University in Japan, suggests that a longer regimen of edoxaban therapy is superior to a shorter one in preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) and VTE-related death.

Key Points

• The study analyzed 601 patients with cancer and isolated distal DVT across 60 institutions in Japan from April 2019 to June 2022.
• The primary composite endpoint was symptomatic recurrent VTE and VTE-related death at 12 months.
• A total of 296 participants were randomized to 12-month edoxaban therapy and 305 were randomized to three-month edoxaban therapy.
• The primary composite endpoint occurred in 1.0% of participants in the 12-month edoxaban group compared with 7.2% in the three-month group.
• Major bleeding occurred in 9.5% of patients in the 12-month edoxaban group compared with 7.2% in the three-month group.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, cancer patients are four times more likely to suffer venous thromboembolism (VTE) than the general population.

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