RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Screening for Occult Malignancy in Patients with Unprovoked Venous Thromboembolism

This study explores if a special scan helps find hidden cancers in people over 50 who have had a blood clot (VTE) that wasn't caused by anything clear. Sometimes, a blood clot can be the first sign a person has cancer, even if they don't know it yet. For people over 50, this connection is more common. Researchers want to see if adding a detailed scan called a FDG PET/CT to a routine check-up can find these hidden cancers more effectively than the routine check-up alone. The goal is to see if finding these cancers earlier can lead to better care for patients. This study is for people aged 50 or over who have recently had a blood clot that appeared without an obvious reason, like surgery or a known health problem.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University Hospital, Brest

Enrolment target

1,276

Start

08 Sep 2020

Estimated completion

08 Sep 2030

Embolism and Thrombosis

What is this study about?

Imagine you've had a blood clot (doctors call this a Venous Thromboembolism, or VTE), but there's no clear reason why it happened – you haven't had recent surgery, aren't on bed rest, and don't have certain other health issues. Sometimes, in these situations, a blood clot can be the very first sign of a hidden cancer that hasn't caused any noticeable symptoms yet. This is especially true for people over 50.

Finding these hidden cancers early can be really important for a person's health and treatment. This study is designed to look closely at whether a specific type of advanced scan, called a FDG PET/CT, can help doctors find these cancers sooner than they would with a more basic health check-up. The FDG PET/CT scan uses a special dye to highlight areas in the body where cells are very active, which can sometimes point to cancer.

The study aims to compare two groups of people over 50 who have had an unexplained blood clot. One group will have the standard set of tests, while the other will also have the FDG PET/CT scan. By doing this, researchers want to see if the group who had the advanced scan ends up having significantly more hidden cancers found within a year, and whether these are found earlier.

Key takeaways

This study explores if advanced scanning finds hidden cancers earlier in people with unexplained blood clots.
It's for individuals aged 50 or older who have had their first 'unprovoked' blood clot.
The study compares a standard check-up with an additional FDG PET/CT scan.
Finding hidden cancers early could lead to better overall health care.
Participation involves follow-up for about one year.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for people who are 50 years old or older. You must have recently been diagnosed with your first blood clot (VTE) that appeared without an obvious reason. This means the blood clot wasn't caused by things like recent surgery, being very unwell in bed for a while, a known cancer, or certain other medical conditions.

You cannot take part if you are under 50, if you have certain allergies to the scan materials, or if you wouldn't be able to attend follow-up appointments. Also, if your blood clot happened while you were already taking blood thinners for another reason, or if you have a known blood clotting problem that explains your VTE, you wouldn't be able to join.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 50 years old or older?
Have you recently had your first blood clot (VTE) that did not have an obvious cause?
Do you have any allergies to special dyes used in scans?
Are you able to attend follow-up appointments for about a year?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, you might be asked to have a special scan called a FDG PET/CT, in addition to the usual check-ups. This scan involves a small injection of a special dye before the scan itself. You would also have regular follow-up appointments with the study team for at least one year. During these appointments, doctors will check on your health and any new symptoms. You might have blood tests or other examinations as part of your general care. The total duration of your participation would be for about one year, focusing on monitoring for any signs of hidden cancer.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could potentially lead to earlier detection of a hidden cancer, if you have one, which might improve your treatment options. However, there are some minor risks associated with the FDG PET/CT scan, such as a small amount of radiation exposure, similar to other medical scans, and rare allergic reactions to the injected dye. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect the quality of your care.

Locations (20)

University of Calgary
Verified postcode
Calgary, Canada· Not yet recruiting
University of Manitoba
Verified postcode
Winnipeg, Canada· Not yet recruiting
McMaster University
Verified postcode
Hamilton, Canada· Not yet recruiting
London Health Sciences Centre
Verified postcode
London, Canada· Not yet recruiting
Hopital Montfort
Verified postcode
Ottawa, Canada· Recruiting
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Verified postcode
Ottawa, Canada· Recruiting
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting
University Health Network
Verified postcode
Toronto, Canada· Recruiting
Jewish General Hospital
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada· Recruiting
McGill University Health Centre
Verified postcode
Montreal, Canada· Not yet recruiting
CH des Pays de Morlaix
Verified postcode
Morlaix, France· Recruiting
CH Agen
Verified postcode
Agen, France· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'VTE'?

VTE stands for Venous Thromboembolism, which is the medical term for a blood clot, like a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) in the leg or a PE (pulmonary embolism) in the lung.

What does 'unprovoked' VTE mean?

It means the blood clot happened without a clear reason, like a recent surgery, a known cancer, being very unwell and bedridden, or another obvious cause.

What is a FDG PET/CT scan?

It's a detailed imaging scan that uses a special dye to help doctors see areas in your body that are very active, which can sometimes be a sign of cancer.

Who is this study for?

It's for people aged 50 or over who have had their first 'unprovoked' blood clot and meet other specific health requirements.

How long does the study last?

If you join, you would be followed by the study team for about one year.

How to find out more

Pierre-Yves SALAUN

pierre-yves.salaun@chu-brest.fr (+33)298223327 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.