Home Neoplasma 2022 Neoplasma Vol.69, No.2, p.456–463, 2022

Journal info


6 times a year.
Founded: 1954
ISSN 0028-2685
ISSN 1338-4317 (online)

Published in English

Editorial Info
Abstracted and Indexed
Submission Guidelines

Select Journal







Webshop Cart

Your Cart is currently empty.

Info: Your browser does not accept cookies. To put products into your cart and purchase them you need to enable cookies.

Neoplasma Vol.69, No.2, p.456–463, 2022

Title: Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis is not associated with decreased incidence of venous thromboembolism in testicular germ cell tumor patients receiving chemotherapy
Author: Nikola Hapakova, Michal Chovanec, Katarina Rejlekova, Katarina Kalavska, Jana Obertova, Patrik Palacka, Valentina De Angelis, Zuzana Sycova-Mila, Jozef Mardiak, Michal Mego

Abstract: Venous thromboembolism (VTE), commonly occurring in patients with testicular germ cell tumors (GCT), is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic anticoagulation has been shown to decrease the risk of VTE in patients with malignancies. The objective was to evaluate the effect of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis on the incidence of VTE and outcome in patients with GCT treated with first-line chemotherapy. In this retrospective study, 353 chemotherapy-naive GCT patients were treated with first-line chemotherapy at the National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, Slovakia (2000-2017). Median follow-up was 71 months. VTE was defined as any venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, confirmed by imaging, occurring during first-line chemotherapy. Exclusion criteria were LMWH use before starting chemotherapy and VTE on initial staging. We observed 14 (4.0%) VTE events. No visceral thromboses were observed. The difference in VTE incidence between patients with and without prophylaxis was not statistically significant (5.8% vs. 3.2%, p = 0.37). We observed a trend toward longer overall survival in patients without prophylaxis (hazard ratio = 0.61, 95% confidence interval = 0.32-1.13, p = 0.08). Patients with extragonadal GCT receiving VTE prophylaxis had significantly shorter survival (hazard ratio = 0.29, 95% confidence interval = 0.08-1.12, p = 0.04). This effect was most likely driven by a higher incidence of treatment-related deaths in patients with extragonadal GCT receiving LMWH (p = 0.06). LMWH prophylaxis was not associated with decreased VTE incidence. Moreover, there was a higher incidence of treatment-related deaths in patients with extragonadal tumor location. Low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis during hospitalization should not be used routinely in patients with testicular germ cell tumors receiving chemotherapy.

Keywords: testicular germ cell tumors; venous thromboembolism; low-molecular-weight heparin; prophylaxis; chemotherapy
Published online: 24-Jan-2022
Year: 2022, Volume: 69, Issue: 2 Page From: 456, Page To: 463
doi:10.4149/neo_2021_210909N1295


download file



© AEPress s.r.o
Copyright notice: For any permission to reproduce, archive or otherwise use the documents in the ELiS, please contact AEP.