[Cancer chemotherapy and anticoagulant prophylaxis].

The modern pathobiochemical explanation of the old clinical finding, i.e. that the occurrence of the thromboembolic complications in cancer patients is significantly higher, starts to be clarified on the basis of recent knowledge regarding the role of cancer procoagulant, the expressed tissue factor and the changes in the clotting and fibrinolytic systems. Furthermore, the presently used chemotherapeutic agents have activating effects of the coagulation system as well. The details of these phenomena, the frequently used drugs and their pathobiochemical effects are detailed in this publication. Finally, it gives an outlook regarding the new adjuvant, beneficial effects of the direct anticoagulants in malignancies.