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Tumor grade likely detects those with VTE risk
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Patients with grade-3 or grade-4 tumors had twice the risk for developing venous thromboembolism compared with those with grade-1 or grade-2 tumors, according to results of a prospective, observational study.
The findings suggest tumor-related factors may help predict VTE risk among patients with cancer, the researchers said.
The researchers evaluated 747 patients, including those with newly diagnosed disease or progression of disease after remission. Of them, 468 patients had grade-1 or grade-2 tumors and 279 had grade-3 or grade-4 tumors.
The occurrence of symptomatic VTE served as the primary endpoint.
The median follow-up duration was 526 days, and 52 patients (7%) experienced VTE.
Results of a multivariate analysis accounting for tumor grade, histology, sites, stage, sex and age indicated that VTE risk was significantly higher in patients with high-grade tumors compared with those with low-grade tumors (HR=2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5).
After 6 months of follow-up, patients with high-grade tumors had an 8.2% cumulative probability of developing VTE vs. 4% among those with low-grade tumors (P=.037). High-grade tumors also were associated with higher D-dimer levels (P=.008) and leukocyte counts (P<.001), and lower hemoglobin levels (P=.008).
“The tumor grade may help identify patients with cancer who are at high risk of VTE,” the researchers concluded. “The association of tumor grade with recently identified biomarkers indicates a link between tumor differentiation and pathogenesis of cancer-associated VTE.”
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