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Introduction: Cancer-associated venous thrombosis (CAT) is a common and serious complication of active malignancies, increasing in frequency during systemic treatment and radiotherapy. Due to a high risk of recurrence and bleeding, the administration of anticoagulants for initial treatment and secondary prevention of CAT is challenging. We conducted a prospective registry study of patients with acute CAT to evaluate the way treatment is given to these patients in routine practice. Methods: From May 2015 to May 2017, all consecutive patients with acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) admitted to specialty or emergency departments of the participating hospitals in Berlin, Germany, were entered into the registry. Patients with cancer underwent extensive baseline evaluation including the type and location of thrombosis and use of anticoagulant therapy. Follow-up assessments were made at discharge and by telephone interviews at 3 and 6 months. Results: A total of 382 patients with acute CAT were enrolled in the study, representing 24.5% of all patients with thrombosis. 70.4% of CAT patients had deep vein thromboses (DVT), 48.2% had pulmonary embolism (PE), and 18.6% had concurrent PE and DVT. A significant proportion of VTE (27%) was asymptomatic and was diagnosed only incidentally. At baseline, 97.9% of the patients received anticoagulant therapy, predominantly with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) (n = 334, 87.4%). Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) were given to 5.8% of patients, and vitamin K antagonists were rarely used (Conclusion: In accordance with the guidelines, the majority of CAT patients received anticoagulation therapy for the recommended minimum duration of 3–6 months. LMWH remained the preferred option throughout the study, demonstrating good patient adherence. In deviation from guideline recommendations and available study results during the study period, more than a quarter of CAT patients were treated with DOACs. Only recently, DOACs have been established as another option for anticoagulation in CAT patients.

Background: The low incidence and the variable presentation complicate clinical investigations on biliary tract cancer. The results of Valle et al. in 2009 provided, for the first time, an evidence-based palliative treatment for this rare tumor type. So far no data are available in Germany regarding the current daily care practice. Methods: We started this national survey in May 2011, including about 3,400 members of the AIO (Working Group Medical Oncology), DGHO (German Society of Hematology and Oncology) and GGHBB (Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in Berlin and Brandenburg). The standardized online form contained questions concerning field of action and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Evaluation was conducted anonymously. Results: 162 responses could be obtained, corresponding to a response rate of about 5%. 70.4% of the respondents were physicians in hospitals, 23.5% stated to work in private practices. 61.7% of the respondents were medical oncologists and 27.2% gastroenterologists. 52.5% of the participants pointed out to use the standard regimen of gemcitabine and cisplatin. For second-line regimen, the most frequent answer (29%) specified the administration of oxaliplatin in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine. Conclusions: This survey may help to clarify the current oncologic daily care procedures for patients with biliary tract cancer in Germany. The results can be helpful for further clinical investigations or the implementation of a tumor-specific register.