Venous thromboembolism and cancer: pathophysiology and incidence

A relationship between tumor and thrombosis is well known. This review covers the aspect of incidence and pathophysiology of cancer-related thromboembolism. Cancer patients have an up to 7% risk of developing venous thrombosis, partly because they are subject to various circumstantial risk factors such as surgical interventions, immobilization or drugs during their illness. On the other hand, tumors frequently generate a prothrombotic state, which may remain without clinical manifestation or result in anticoagulant-resistent venous thromboembolism. Recently discovered thrombosis-generating mechanisms could help to classify patients in categories with high and low thrombotic risk, which will allow tailored prophylactic and therapeutic interventions.