title: A multicenter study of recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin alpha) in the management of anemia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
abstract: Current evidence suggests that epoetin alpha administration is well tolerated and effective in the management of anemia of cancer and cancer chemotherapy. An open-label, multinational, non-comparative study was conducted in 215 cancer patients with anemia secondary to chemotherapy with platinum- or non-platinum-based combinations. Epoetin alpha was administered s.c. (150 IU/kg three times/week) for a planned period of 16 weeks. The response rate of epoetin alpha, defined as an increase in hemoglobin level of 2 g/dl or more from baseline, was 67%. The rate of response was not related to the chemotherapy regimen administered (platinum or non-platinum based). The percentage of patients transfused and the transfusion rate during epoetin alpha treatment were reduced. Transfusional need was eliminated in 64 (75%) of the 85 patients transfused before the study start, after 1 month of therapy. Quality of life, assessed using a visual analog scale, improved markedly in patients who experienced a hematological response. These patients also experienced a statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in mean WHO performance score. These findings indicate that epoetin alpha is a well tolerated and effective agent which increases hemoglobin concentration and reduces transfusion requirements in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Klinik Chemioterapii, National Institute of Oncology, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlicki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jassem
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bösze
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lotan
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Kurteva
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siddiqui
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kosmidis
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rigatos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kansu
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durkovic
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al Idrissi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cozma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin