Dalteparin in Preventing Blood Clots in Patients With Lung Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Histopathological or cytological diagnosis of primary bronchial carcinoma (small cell or non-small cell lung cancer) within the past 6 weeks
• No other intrathoracic tumors (e.g., carcinoid tumor, mesothelioma, lymphoma, or lung metastases from another primary site)
• No clinically apparent brain metastases
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-3
• Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm³
• Serum creatinine ≤ 150 µmol/L
• Willing and able to self-administer dalteparin by daily subcutaneous injection or have it administered by a caregiver
• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile female patients must use effective contraception (if sexually active)
• No hemorrhagic stroke within the past 3 months
• No known bleeding disorder
• No hemoptysis of CTC ≥ grade 2 (i.e., symptomatic hemoptysis requiring medical intervention)
• No central venous catheter requiring the use of thromboprophylaxis
• No known hypersensitivity to dalteparin, heparin, or other low molecular weight heparins (e.g., history of confirmed or suspected immunologically mediated heparin-induced thrombocytopenia; acute gastroduodenal ulcer; or subacute endocarditis)
• No prior illness likely to interfere with study treatment or comparisons
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• No prior treatment likely to interfere with study treatment or comparisons
• More than 12 months since prior and no concurrent therapeutic anticoagulation
• No concurrent ketorolac (Toradol®)