Management of thrombocytopenia in cancer patients

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) is a frequent complication of cancer therapy, leading to increased risk of bleeding, when the thrombocytopenia is severe (<10,000/mcL). However, the major clinical relevance of CIT is the subsequent delay or dose reduction in chemotherapy. CIT, therefore, leads to reduced relative dose intensity (RDI) of cancer therapy. Reduced RDI has been shown in several studies to impact progression-free survival and other cancer outcomes. While there are a number of factors leading to reduced RDI, CIT is a common cause. We review the causes and clinical manifestations of CIT, the current recommendations for management, and the status of research to develop targeted therapies to treat CIT.