Management of Cancer-Associated Thrombosis in France: A National Survey among Vascular Disease and Supportive Care Specialists

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Patients with venous thromboembolism events in the context of cancer should receive anticoagulants for at least 6 months. Both low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) and direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are considered in international guidelines, with a different approach. To investigate the determinants of decision, at thrombosis diagnosis and after 6 months, and the practices when facing special situations, such as venous thromboembolic recurrence or thrombocytopenia, we designed a survey among specialists of cancer-associated thromboembolism, including vignettes about patients with different cancer sites and questions. We considered points related to cancer disease, anticancer treatments and characteristics of patients. ABSTRACT: Low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are recommended by international guidelines for at least 6 months in patients with cancer-associated thromboembolism (CAT). Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been proposed as an alternative to LMWH. In clinical practice, the specialists in charge of CAT have to decide which anticoagulant to prescribe. An electronic survey tool, including vignettes and questions, was sent to members of the French Society of Vascular Medicine, the French-speaking association for supportive care in oncology and the Investigation Network On Venous Thrombo-Embolism. Among the 376 respondents, LMWHs were reported as the first choice by most specialists. The prescription of DOACs within the first 3 weeks of CAT diagnosis was highly dependent on the cancer site: 5.9%, 18.6% and 24.5% in patients with locally advanced colorectal, lung and breast cancer, respectively. The determinants were mostly related to cancer (site and stage or evolution) and to anticancer treatments. For 61% of physicians, some anticancer treatments were contraindications to DOACs. However, almost 90% of physicians considered switching to DOAC after a median 3-month period of LMWHs. In daily practice, LMWHs and DOACs are now considered by specialists of CAT; the decision is mostly driven by the site of cancer. The role of anticancer treatments in the decision remains to be investigated.