Page 74 - GTM-2-3

Global Translational Medicine

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Thromboembolism risk in patients

diagnosed with EGFR- and ALK-mutant lung
adenocarcinoma

Suna Kavurgacı*, Yasemin Söyler, Pınar Akın Kabalak, Derya Kızılgöz, and
Ülkü Yılmaz
Department of Chest Disease,Atatürk Sanatorium Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE),
related risk factors for VTE, and the effect of VTE on overall survival in patients with
non-small-cell lung cancer harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and
anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene mutations. The study included patients
older than 18 years of age who were diagnosed with histologically proven locally
advanced or advanced-stage adenocarcinoma and were followed in our center
between January 2014 and December 2019. These patients were divided into two
groups: one comprising mutation-positive individuals and the other mutation-
negative individuals. We examined factors influencing the occurrence of VTE,
assessed the incidence of VTE, and compared the differences in overall survival.
Univariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the independent predictors of VTE
were the number of metastases (Hazard ratio [HR]: 3.784; 95% confidence interval
*Corresponding author: [CI]: 2.198 – 6.515; P < 0.001) and the presence of EGFR exon 21 mutations (HR: 2.386;
Suna Kavurgacı 95% CI: 1.276 – 4.462; P = 0.006). However, in multivariate analysis, only the number
(suna.dr01@gmail.com)
of comorbidities was associated with an increased risk for VTE (HR: 3.462; 95%
Citation: Kavurgacı S, Söyler Y, CI: 1.977 – 6.060; P < 0.001). It is essential to consider the risk of VTE development
Kabalak PA, et al., 2023,
Thromboembolism risk in patients in patients with EGFR exon 21 mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma. Physicians
diagnosed with EGFR- and should be vigilant in terms of screening, prophylaxis, and follow-up for underlying
ALK-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. VTE in these patients.
Global Transl Med, 2(3): 1027.
https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.1027
Received: June 1, 2023 Keywords: Pulmonary embolism; Venous thromboembolism; Epidermal growth factor
Accepted: August 30, 2023 receptor; Survival
Published Online: September 12,
2023
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article 1. Introduction
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution The incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is higher among cancer patients
License, permitting distribution,
[1]
and reproduction in any medium, compared to the general population . Approximately 20% of all VTE cases can be
provided the original work is attributed to cancer . The highest risk of VTE is observed in patients with lung
[2]
properly cited. cancer, hematological malignancies, gastrointestinal cancer, or distant metastases .
[3]
Publisher’s Note: AccScience Furthermore, studies have indicated that the presence of VTE increases the mortality
Publishing remains neutral with risk in cancer patients by 3 – 5 times [3,4] . Despite the thrombosis prophylaxis, the risk of
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional VTE following surgical procedures in cancer patients surpasses that in non-malignant
[5]
affiliations. patients . Notably, the risk of fatal pulmonary embolism (PE) increases more than

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/gtm.1027