Prevention of Venous and Arterial Thromboembolism, in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy, With a Low Molecular Weight Heparin (Nadroparin Calcium)

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

* both sexes;aged\>18 years;
* suffering from different types of malignancies(lung, breast,gastric,colon- rectum,pancreatic,ovarian,head and neck cancer)undergoing systemic chemotherapy,
* having signed Informed Consent prior to initiation of any study procedure.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

* adjuvant and neo-adjuvant chemotherapy;
* objectively confirmed venous or arterial thromboembolism in the last three months;
* antithrombotic treatment for other indications;
* life expectancy of less than 3 months;
* Performance Status\>2(ECOG);
* active bleeding or bleedings in the last four weeks requiring hospitalization,transfusion or surgical intervention;
* bleeding diathesis(prothrombin time\<70% or activated partial thromboplastin time ratio\>1.3),or platelet count\<50x10\^9/L;
* cerebrovascular hemorrhage in the last six months;
* known active gastric or duodenal ulcer;
* known cerebral metastasis;
* cerebral aneurysm;
* III-IV grade diabetic retinopathy;
* severe and uncontrolled hypertension(systolic blood pressure\>180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure\>110 mmHg);
* chronic atrial fibrillation;
* acute endocarditis;
* acute pancreatitis;
* known hypersensitivity to unfractionated heparin or LMWH;
* previous occurrence of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia;
* renal impairment (dependent on dialysis or creatinine higher than 2.5mg%);
* liver insufficiency (alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phosphatase levels\>3 times the upper limit of the normal ranges and/or total bilirubin \>3.0 mg/ml);
* pregnancy or childbearing potential without adequate contraception;
* treatment with other investigational drugs or patient inclusion in other clinical trials;
* patients who are unable to fulfill the study requirements in terms of visits/compliance to treatment.