Effectiveness of weekly subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin administration for chemotherapy-induced anemia.
The effects of weekly subcutaneous recombinant human erythropoietin (r-hEPO) administration on anemia during chemotherapy including cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in patients with head and neck carcinomas were examined. Weekly subcutaneous r-hEPO administration in cancer patients has not been investigated previously. Patients were treated with r-hEPO 100 IU/kg (2 patients), 200 IU/kg (6 patients), or 400 IU/kg (5 patients), or placebo, and effectiveness was evaluated by monitoring hemoglobin concentration changes after administration for 8 weeks. Hemoglobin concentrations in all 3 r-hEPO dosage groups were higher than that in the control group during chemotherapy. All r-hEPO doses produced improvements in the anemia induced by chemotherapy; however, the 400 IU/kg dose was most effective. The requirement for blood transfusions decreased in patients receiving r-hEPO therapy, and no significant side-effects were associated with r-hEPO administration. These results suggest that chemotherapy-induced anemia can be prevented by weekly subcutaneous r-hEPO administration.
Tsukuda
M
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yokohama City University, School of Medicine, Japan.
Yuyama
S
S
Kohno
H
H
Itoh
K
K
Kokatsu
T
T
Kawai
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil