Ischemic Stroke in Cancer Patients: A Review of an Underappreciated Pathology.

Currently one-in-ten patients with ischemic stroke have comorbid cancer and this frequency is expected to increase with continued advances in cancer therapeutics prolonging median survival. Well known for its association with venous thrombosis, cancer has recently emerged as a significant risk factor for arterial thromboembolism including stroke, however, the underlying mechanisms are uncertain. In addition, the optimal strategies to prevent and acutely treat stroke in cancer patients is yet to be established. This review summarizes the current evidence on ischemic stroke risk, biomarkers, pathophysiology, treatments, and prognosis in cancer patients, emphasizing knowledge gaps and the potential strategies to address them. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.