Cancer
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Review Meta Analysis
A meta-analysis and systematic review of the efficacy and safety of anticoagulants as cancer treatment: impact on survival and bleeding complications.
Preclinical evidence suggests that anticoagulants, in particular the low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH), exert an antitumor effect, whereas clinical trials have reported conflicting results. The authors conducted a comprehensive, systematic review and meta-analysis of the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), to evaluate the impact of anticoagulants on survival and safety in cancer patients without venous thromboembolism. ⋯ Anticoagulants, particularly LMWH, significantly improved overall survival in cancer patients without venous thrombosis while increasing the risk for bleeding complications. However, given the limitations of available data, the use of anticoagulants as antineoplastic therapy cannot be recommended until additional RCTs confirm these results.