Prophylactic recombinant epoetin alfa markedly reduces the need for blood transfusion in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with biochemotherapy.
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.
Wolchok
J D
JD
Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Klimek
V M
VM
Williams
L
L
Chapman
P B
PB
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
D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa