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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
04:40
Venous Thrombosis Assay in a Mouse Model of Cancer
Published on: January 5, 2024
Thrombosis associated with angiogenesis inhibitors
Francesca Elice1, Francesco Rodeghiero, Anna Falanga
1Department of Cell Therapy and Haematology, San Bortolo Hospital, Via Rodolfi 37, 36100 Vicenza, Italy.
Best Practice & Research. Clinical Haematology
|March 17, 2009
Summary
New anti-angiogenic cancer drugs targeting tumor blood vessel growth can paradoxically increase the risk of dangerous blood clots and bleeding. Further research is needed to assess thrombosis prophylaxis in cancer patients receiving these novel therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Vascular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Recent cancer research focuses on novel biological agents targeting tumor-associated neoangiogenesis.
- Several anti-angiogenic agents are approved and in clinical trials for cancer treatment.
- These agents present a paradoxical risk of thrombosis and bleeding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the association between anti-angiogenic agents and thromboembolic events in cancer patients.
- To discuss the potential mechanisms underlying the increased risk of thrombosis.
- To highlight the need for evaluating thrombosis prophylaxis in clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on anti-angiogenic agents and their vascular toxicities.
- Analysis of reported thromboembolic and bleeding complications associated with specific agents.
- Discussion of proposed mechanisms for increased thrombotic risk.
Main Results:
- Five anti-angiogenic agents (thalidomide, lenalidomide, bevacizumab, sunitinib, sorafenib) are FDA-approved.
- Different agents exhibit varying risks: venous thromboembolism (thalidomide, lenalidomide) vs. arterial thromboembolism/myocardial ischemia (bevacizumab, sunitinib, sorafenib).
- Mechanisms suggest endothelial cell perturbation shifts the vasculature to a prothrombotic state.
Conclusions:
- Anti-angiogenic therapies necessitate careful monitoring for hemostatic complications.
- Randomized clinical trials are crucial to determine the efficacy of thrombosis prophylaxis.
- This is particularly important when anti-angiogenic agents are combined with chemotherapy.
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