Risk factors for developing a new venous thromboembolism in ambulatory patients with non-hematologic malignancies and impact on survival for gastroesophageal malignancies

Background: Venous thromboembolism(VTE) is a significant, common comorbidity of cancer patients associated with increased mortality. We evaluated the incidence and risk factors for developing a new VTE in ambulatory cancer patients while they were receiving therapy for advanced cancer. We also examined the affect of developing a new VTE on survival for patients with gastroesophageal malignancies. Methods: All patients with non-hematologic malignancies who were treated using investigator-initiated therapeutic protocols at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) from 2003 through to 2005 were identified for this cohort study. The occurrence of VTE was prospectively recorded in an actively managed clinical research database. Baseline laboratory parameters, treatment details and tumor type were correlated with VTE risk and patient survival. Results: 115 out of 2120 patients being treated for advanced malignancy developed a new VTE(12.8 VTEs/100 person-years). In multivariate analysis, a diagnosis of gastroesophageal cancer (hazard ratio (HR), 2.76 (1.41-5.38); P = 0.003), pancreatic cancer (HR, 2.26 (1.06-4.80); P = 0.05), use of white cell growth factors (HR 1.69(1.09-2.64); P = 0.02) and irinotecan therapy (HR, 1.89 (1.29-3.59); P = 0.05) were independently associated with VTE development. Hemoglobin > 10 g dL(-1) (HR, 0.52 (0.3-0.91); P = 0.02) and albumin >= 4 g dL(-1) (HR, 0.61 (0.39-0.94); P - 0.024) were associated with reduced VTE risk. The unadjusted HR for death among ambulatory gastroesophageal cancer patients with VTE is 0.89 (0.61-1.3), P = 0.53. After adjusting for confounding risk factors associated with survival, the HR for death associated with VTE is 0.78 (0.5-1.2), P = 0.25. Conclusion: Upper gastrointestinal malignancies are independently associated with the development of a new VTE, implicating tumor biology in VTE development. Even after adjusting for prognostic factors, we were unable to demonstrate an adverse impact on survival due to the new development of VTE amongst patients with active gastroesophageal malignancy receiving therapy.