Chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin and epirubicin induce a procoagulant phenotype on endothelial cells and blood monocytes

BACKGROUND: Although chemotherapy is associated with an increased risk of thrombosis, the pathogenic mechanisms by which chemotherapeutic agents exert prothrombotic effects are unclear. OBJECTIVES: In this study we explored the possibility that chemotherapeutic agents doxorubicin, epirubicin, 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate induce a procoagulant phenotype on vascular endothelial cells and/or on blood monocytes.