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

Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed malignancy * No more than 5 days since placement of central venous catheter for administration of chemotherapy * Expected length of catheter use at least 16 weeks * 18 and over * Performance status: ECOG 0-2 * Life expectancy: At least 16 weeks * Hematopoietic: * Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3 * Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3 * No known coagulopathy * Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal (ULN) except in case of Gilbert's syndrome * AST no greater than 3 times ULN (no greater than 5 times ULN in case of liver metastases) * PT/PTT no greater than 1.5 times ULN Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2 times ULN Cardiovascular: * HIV negative * Must weigh at least 90 pounds * At least 3 months since prior eye, ear, or CNS surgery Other: * At least 30 days since prior aspirin, dipyridamole, unfractionated heparin, other low molecular weight heparins, or other anticoagulation therapy (except heparin flushing) Exclusion Criteria: * uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina, or symptomatic congestive heart failure * myocardial infarction in past 6 months * uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia Other: * known hypersensitivity (including heparin induced thrombocytopenia) to dalteparin, heparin, or other low molecular weight heparins * active uncontrolled infection, including existing catheter related infection * CNS trauma in past 3 months * retinal detachment in past 6 months * mental incapacitation or psychiatric illness that would preclude study compliance * other serious concurrent disease that would preclude study participation * active gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract bleeding * intracranial or intraocular hemorrhage in past year * concurrent high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation * concurrent induction/consolidation chemotherapy for leukemia * concurrent high dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation