Risk prediction of cancer-associated thrombosis: Appraising the first decade and developing the future

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Hematology
• Clinical Risk Prediction

Background:

• Cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) significantly increases patient morbidity and mortality.
• Risk for VTE in cancer patients is highly variable, necessitating accurate risk stratification.
• Identifying patients at high or low risk for VTE is crucial for appropriate management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review research efforts over the past decade in predicting cancer-associated VTE risk.
• To discuss the evolution and application of risk assessment tools, including the Khorana score.
• To explore emerging approaches like precision medicine and next-generation sequencing for VTE risk prediction.

Main Methods:

• Narrative review of research published over the last ten years.
• Focus on the development and validation of VTE risk assessment tools in cancer patients.
• Discussion of current clinical applications and future directions in risk prediction.

Main Results:

• The Khorana score, established in 2008, is a key tool for identifying high- and low-risk cancer patients for VTE.
• Risk assessment tools guide decisions on thromboprophylaxis and VTE screening.
• Newer methods like precision medicine and next-generation sequencing show promise for enhanced risk prediction.

Conclusions:

• Accurate prediction of VTE risk in cancer patients is essential for personalized care.
• Continued research and development of advanced risk prediction strategies are needed.
• Improving risk stratification will optimize thromboprophylaxis and early VTE detection in oncology.