PORTLAND VA MEDICAL CENTER

Cancer Clinical Trials Systematically Underreport Thromboembolic Risks, Researchers Warn

- Researchers have identified widespread inconsistent and potentially inaccurate reporting of venous and arterial thrombotic events in cancer clinical trials, according to a commentary published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. - Real-world analysis shows 13.5% of cancer patients experience venous thromboembolism within 12 months of starting chemotherapy, while clinical trials often report significantly lower rates due to various reporting biases. - The study authors call for mandatory uniform reporting of all thromboembolic events in cancer trials to enable accurate risk assessment and informed patient consent for cancer-directed therapy. - Experts recommend incorporating International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria, extending trial follow-up periods, and making thromboembolic events prespecified secondary endpoints to improve reporting accuracy.