Anti-metastatic Effect of Short-term Postoperative Anticoagulation for Patients Undergoing Curative Resection of Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of anticoagulant fondaparinux postoperatively for preventing recurrence after curative resection of colorectal cancer with lymphnode metastasis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 279 patients who underwent curative resection of colorectal cancer with lymph-node metastasis between 2006 and 2013 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of prophylaxis for postoperative venous thromboembolism: the FPX group, treated with subcutaneous fondaparinux plus intermittent pneumatic compression; and the IPC group, treated with intermittent pneumatic compression alone. Recurrence-free survival was compared using propensity score matching.

RESULTS: In the propensity score-matched cohort, the 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 74.9% and 74.4% in the FPX (n=61) and IPC groups (n=61), respectively (p=0.830).

CONCLUSION: Our results do not suggest that short-term postoperative anticoagulation as prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism prevents colorectal cancer recurrence after curative resection.