Edoxaban noninferior to dalteparin for VTE in cancer

“There was more upper GI [gastrointestinal] bleeding with edoxaban,” Dr Raskob noted. “It occurred predominantly in patients with GI cancer at the time of entry in the study.”

Death from any cause occurred in 39.5% of patients in the edoxaban arm and 36.6% of patients in the dalteparin arm (HR=1.12).

The rate of event-free survival (absence of recurrent VTE, major bleeding, and death) was 55.0% in the edoxaban arm and 56.5% in the dalteparin arm (HR=0.93).

“The bottom line for patients and oncologists is, ‘Does the patient survive free of these complications?’” Dr Raskob said. “Survival free of recurrent VTE or major bleeding was similar with these regimens.”