Active not recruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Anticoagulation in Patients With Venous Thromboembolism and Cancer

This study is reviewing existing patient information to learn more about how blood-thinning medicines affect people living with cancer who have also developed blood clots. It's comparing different types of anticoagulants, which are medicines that stop blood from clotting, such as Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Edoxaban, Dabigatran, VKA, and LMWH. The aim is to understand how these treatments are used in real life, their costs, and importantly, how well they work and if they cause any side effects for patients. By looking at information already collected, researchers hope to find out which treatments might be best for this group of patients.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Sponsor

Pfizer

Enrolment target

Start

14 Dec 2020

Estimated completion

30 Jun 2026

Neoplasms Embolism

What is this study about?

This study is like looking through old records, but in a very organised way. Researchers are examining information that has already been collected from hospitals and clinics about people who developed blood clots (a condition called Venous Thromboembolism or VTE) and also have cancer, or have had cancer in the past. The main goal is to understand how different blood-thinning medications, also known as anticoagulants, are being used in these patients. These medicines include newer ones like Apixaban and Rivaroxaban, as well as older ones like Warfarin (often called VKA) and LMWH (low molecular weight heparin).

The researchers want to see what treatment choices were made, how much healthcare was needed (like doctor visits or hospital stays), and what the overall costs were. Most importantly, they will look at how safe and effective these different blood thinners were for people with cancer and blood clots. They are not giving new treatments or asking people to do anything new; they are simply analysing existing data to learn from real-world experiences.

The information gathered from this study can help doctors and patients make better choices about which blood-thinning medication might be most suitable for people with cancer and blood clots in the future. It’s an important way to learn from many patients’ experiences without anyone having to take part in a new medical experiment.

Key takeaways

This study uses existing medical records, not new experiments.
It aims to understand blood thinner use in cancer patients with blood clots.
No new treatments or hospital visits are required from patients.
The goal is to improve future treatment choices.
Patient information is kept private and confidential.

Who may be eligible?

To be included in this study, the patient records being looked at must be about someone who was at least 18 years old when they were diagnosed with a blood clot. They also needed to have either active cancer or a history of cancer. The records must show that they were treated with one of the specific blood-thinning medications being studied, such as Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, Dabigatran, Edoxaban, VKA, or LMWH.

However, some patient records would not be included. For example, if the person had a blood clot before, or had a heart condition called atrial fibrillation, their records wouldn't be part of this study. Also, if they had a filter placed in a main vein (called an IVC filter), or if they had already been taking blood thinners before their blood clot diagnosis (unless it was for prevention), their information wouldn't be used.

Finally, if a woman was pregnant at the time, or if someone was prescribed more than one type of continuous blood thinner at once, or if there wasn't enough follow-up information after their treatment started, their records would not be suitable for this research.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Were you at least 18 years old when you had a blood clot diagnosis?
Do you have active cancer, or have you had cancer in the past?
Were you treated with a blood thinner like Apixaban, Rivaroxaban, or LMWH for the blood clot?
Did you not have a filter put in your main vein (IVC filter)?
Were you not pregnant when the blood clot was diagnosed?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

As this is a 'retrospective' study, meaning it looks back at existing patient data, you would not be directly involved in taking any new medication, undergoing any new assessments, or attending any study visits. Your participation would be passive, as researchers would be analysing information already collected as part of your routine medical care. There are no direct actions required from you, and therefore no specific duration of involvement.

Potential risks and benefits

Since this study involves looking at existing, anonymised patient data, there are no direct physical risks to individual patients. Your medical information would be handled confidentially. The potential benefit is that the findings from this research could help improve understanding of the best blood-thinning treatments for people with cancer and blood clots in the future. As you are not actively participating in the study, there is no 'right to withdraw' in the traditional sense, but patient confidentiality and data protection laws are always followed.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

Pfizer Investigational Site
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is a 'blood clot'?

A blood clot (Venous Thromboembolism or VTE) is when blood gels together in a vein, often in the leg, which can be serious if it travels to the lungs.

What are 'blood thinners'?

Blood thinners (anticoagulants) are medicines that help prevent blood clots from forming or growing larger.

Will my doctors know if my information is used?

Your specific records are anonymised, meaning your personal details are removed, so individual doctors usually wouldn't know your specific data is part of the study.

Is this study safe for patients?

Yes, because it only looks at existing, anonymised data, there are no direct safety concerns for individual patients.

How will this study help people?

By understanding which treatments work best for people with cancer and blood clots, doctors can make more informed decisions, potentially improving future care.