Dalteparin to Prevent Complications in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy Through a Catheter

OBJECTIVES: I. Determine if dalteparin will reduce the incidence of clinically significant catheter related complications (i.e., asymptomatic catheter related thrombosis) in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy through a central venous catheter. OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to treatment center and catheter placement (proximal to axilla vs distal to axilla). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm I: Patients receive dalteparin subcutaneously (SC) daily. Arm II: Patients receive placebo SC daily. Treatment continues for 16 weeks or until catheter removal in the absence of unacceptable toxicity. Patients are followed for 30 days. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 345 patients (230 in arm I and 115 in arm II) will be accrued for this study over 6 months.