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Rationale and experimental design for the va cooperative study of anticoagulation (warfarin) in the treatment of cancer
Author(s) -
Zacharski Leo R.,
Henderson William G.,
Rickles Frederick R.,
Forman Walter B.,
Cornell C. J.,
Jackson Forcier R.,
Harrower Harold W.,
Johnson Robert O.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(197908)44:2<732::aid-cncr2820440246>3.0.co;2-y
Subject(s) - medicine , warfarin , malignancy , anticoagulant , cancer , coagulation , mechanism (biology) , intensive care medicine , pharmacology , oncology , philosophy , epistemology , atrial fibrillation
Anticoagulants have been demonstrated to reduce tumor growth in certain experimental animal systems. Inhibition of clot formation interferes with tumor growth and spread while enhancement of coagulation promotes tumor growth and spread. The fact that the coagulation mechanism is commonly activated in human malignancy together with preliminary reports of therapeutic efficacy of anticoagulants suggests that the coagulation mechanism may be of pathophysiologic significance also in the growth of human tumors. A VA Cooperative Study has been established to test the hypothesis that warfarin anticoagulation will modify the course of malignancy in man. The purpose of this paper is to present the rationale and experimental design for this study with emphasis on management of anticoagulant administration in cancer patients. This paper serves as the basis for forthcoming reports of toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of warfarin in human malignancy. Cancer 44:732‐741, 1979.