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Updated: Oct 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing Cancer Associated Thrombosis Research in Rodent Models
Published on: January 5, 2024
Venous Thromboembolism in Japanese Patients With Pancreatic Cancer
Takahito Suzuki1, Reina Hori1, Kazutaka Takeuchi1
113607Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture, Japan.
Objective:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Japan. Previous studies from other countries have reported venous thromboembolism prevalence rates of 12 to 36% in patients with pancreatic cancer. In this study, we aimed to determine the incidence of VTE in patients with PDAC in Japan and compare the characteristics of patients with and without VTE.
Methods:
In this retrospective cohort study, clinicopathological characteristics of patients with and without concomitant VTE were compared.
Patients:
Patients with PDAC treated at Fukui Prefectural Hospital, Japan from 2010 to 2019.
Results:
The 1-year survival rate of all patients with pancreatic cancer was 40.7%. Among 432 patients with PDAC, 31 developed VTE. Seventeen (55%) patients received anticoagulant therapy. Compared with the non-VTE group, the VTE group had significantly more patients whose body mass index was >25 kg/m² (p = .035) and had a significantly higher rate of chemotherapy (p = .024). There was no significant difference in median survival time from PDAC diagnosis between the VTE and non-VTE groups. The 6-month mortality rate after VTE diagnosis was 54.8%. PDAC-related death was the most frequent cause of death, and thrombus-related death was not observed.
Conclusion:
Several baseline characteristics differed between patients with and without VTE. The incidence of VTE in patients with PDAC is high. However, because the prognosis of PDAC itself remains quite poor, VTE may not have a significant effect on prognosis.
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