title: Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment in elderly cancer patients with cisplatin-associated anemia.
abstract: The efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) on the increase in hemoglobin levels was assessed in patients with cisplatin (CDDP)-induced anemia older than 70 years. Furthermore, we compared the results obtained in this group of patients with those observed in other patients receiving rHuEPO for a CDDP-associated anemia with similar clinical features (chemotherapeutic regimen, primary tumor; CDDP cumulative dose) but of an age less than 70 years. Twenty patients older than 70 years with a CDDP-associated anemia (hemoglobin levels < 90 milligrams) received rHuEPO at the dose of 100 U/kg subcutaneously, three times a week. The control group consisted of 20 younger patients, anemic after CDDP chemotherapy, treated with rHuEPO. All patients were evaluable for response and toxicity. Hemoglobin concentrations showed a statistically significant increase after the 3rd, 6th and 9th week of therapy in both older (93.1 +/- 10.7, 103.5 +/- 8.2 and 102.7 +/- 8.2, respectively, vs. baseline, 84.6 +/- 4.9) and younger patients (95.3 +/- 11.7, 101.5 +/- 13.4 and 101.9 +/- 8.7, respectively, vs. baseline, 86.6 +/- 4.0). Furthermore, 30% of older patients required blood transfusions versus 35% of younger patients, with the mean unit of blood transfused per patient being 0.7 U in elderly and 0.65 U in younger patients. Treatment was well tolerated with no significant side effects. The CDDP-induced anemia seems to be corrected by rHuEPO also in elderly patients, without differences with respect to younger patients.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Oncologia, Ospedali Riuniti, Pesaro, Italia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cascinu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Ferro
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedeli
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ligi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alessandroni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catalano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002945:Cisplatin