Drug-drug interactions with non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants in the
management of cancer-associated thrombosis
Abstract
Abstract Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are common in cancer management
and complicate the choice of anticoagulation in cancer-associated
thrombosis. Cancer patients incur an increased risk of thrombotic
events. Also, more bleeding events are observed in those who receive
anticoagulation compared to those without cancer. In the treatment of
cancer-associated thrombosis, non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs)
are at least as effective as low-molecular weight heparins, which became
the standard of care after several trials demonstrated superiority over
vitamin K antagonists. Non-inferiority has been shown for rivaroxaban,
edoxaban and apixaban with a signal of fewer recurrent thrombotic
events, albeit with an increase in bleeding events. Yet, potentially
major drug-drug interactions have been identified as a reason to
withhold NOACs and to rather choose an alternative. Furthermore,
practical guidance on what constitutes a major interaction and/or how to
deal with these interactions in clinical practice is limited. Hence,
here we have provided a framework to allow clinicians to better deal
with drug-drug interactions between NOACs and cancer therapies in the
management of cancer-associated thrombosis. In this review we have
discussed the current literature, how the pharmacokinetic profile links
to the label information on DDI, and have provided a practical proposal,
applied to a clinical case. Key words: drug-drug interactions,
anticoagulation, non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants, cancer, cancer
associated thrombosis