Recombinant human erythropoietin in the treatment of cancer-related anaemia.
The efficacy and safety of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) were tested when given subcutaneously (s.c.) in an escalating dose of 2000-10,000 units (U) daily in 60 patients with cancer-related anaemia (CRA). A positive response, defined as an increase in haemoglobin more than 2 g/dl and independence of blood transfusions was observed in 23 of 48 evaluable patients (48%) within a median of 8 wk. In detail, rhEPO corrected anaemia in 11 of 14 patients (79%) with malignant lymphoma, in 8 of 15 patients (53%) with multiple myeloma and in 4 of 10 patients (40%) with a solid tumour. The median dose of rhEPO in successful cases was 5000 U daily. Four patients with agnogenic myeloid metaplasia and 5 with myelodysplastic disorder failed to respond to rhEPO. No patient had any severe side effects. Pretreatment serum erythropoietin levels appeared to be a weak predictor for response to rhEPO treatment. In conclusion, rhEPO seems to be safe and effective in correcting CRA in certain groups of patients.
Kasper
C
C
Department of Internal Medicine (Cancer Research), West German Cancer Center, University of Essen Medical School, Germany.
Terhaar
A
A
Fosså
A
A
Welt
A
A
Seeber
S
S
Nowrousian
M R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000097:blood; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017701:Reticulocyte Count; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis
D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014168:Transferrin; D004921:Erythropoietin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron