Optimizing the anticoagulation therapy is of pivotal importance in patients with a malignant tumor, as venous thromboembolism (VTE) has become the second-leading cause of death in this population. Cancer can highly increase the risk of thrombosis and bleeding. Consequently, the management of cancer-associated VTE is complex. In recent years, translational research has intensified, and several studies have highlighted the role of inflammatory cytokines in cancer growth and progression. Simultaneously, the pleiotropic effects of anticoagulants currently recommended for VTE have emerged. In this review, we describe the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of both direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and low-molecular-weight heparins (LWMHs).
Keywords: anticoagulants; cancer; direct oral anticoagulants; inflammation; low-molecular-weight heparins; malignancy; thrombosis.