Antiphospholipid antibodies and antiphospholipid syndrome in cancer: Uninvited guests in troubled times

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are autoantibodies with laboratory significance in developing thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). High prevalence of aPLs namely - anticardiolipin, anti-beta 2-glycoprotein I, lupus anticoagulant, antiphosphatidylcholine, antiphosphatidylserine, antiphosphatidylinositol, antiphosphatidylethanolamine and antiprothrombin antibodies have been observed in patients with different types of haematological malignancies and solid tumours. Although cancer patients have high risk of developing thrombosis, the risk becomes even higher in aPLs carriers. Although the relationship between aPLs and cancer has to be further investigated, however, the presence of aPLs in neoplastic patients can possibly increase the risk of developing thrombosis. As the pathogenic role of aPLs in cancer is still a matter of debate, more researches should be conducted on the association between the aPLs and malignancies towards the potential impact on understanding the pathogenicity and treatment when cancer and APS coexists.