ABSTRACT
The effect of coagulation on the development of metastases in the clinical course of patients is at this time poorly understood because of conflicting information. It is well known that certain patients with cancer will have episodes of thrombophlebitis, and, in fact, this may appear before any obvious evidence of malignancy is detectable. Boggust et al. have studied procoagulants of normal human tissues, as well as human cancerous tissues. Studies done in mice have suggested that either inhibition of coagulation or increasing fibrinolytic activity may have a definite effect on whether or not metastases develop. It has been known for some time that thrombophlebitis is associated with carcinoma of the pancreas. Clinical studies with regard to anticoagulation in cancer are scarce. The most significant report on the use of anticoagulants in malignancy is that of Thornes. An adjuvant study is currently in progress on patients undergoing curative resections for carcinoma of the colon.
