title: Prophylactic recombinant epoetin alfa markedly reduces the need for blood transfusion in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with biochemotherapy.
abstract: Treatment of metastatic melanoma with biochemotherapy results in the rapid onset of anemia, requiring blood transfusion in 9 of 13 (69%) patients. Prophylactic use of weekly subcutaneous recombinant epoetin alfa eliminated the need for transfusion in all but 1 of 21 (5%) patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wolchok
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000191:economics; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa