Methods and progress in assessing the quality of life effects of supportive care with erythropoietin therapy.
Anemia is a common disorder in patients with cancer and can be caused by the disease itself or by cancer-related therapy. The cardinal symptom of anemia, fatigue, is the most commonly reported symptom in patients with cancer and has profound effects on patient well-being and quality of life. Until recently, blood transfusions were the mainstay of management of cancer-related anemia, despite attendant risks of transfusion-related reactions and transmission of infection. Recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin-alpha), an effective alternative to blood transfusion, has been shown to improve hematologic parameters, including hemoglobin levels, Hematocrit, and transfusion requirements. Clinical trials have also suggested that this intervention has a positive impact on the quality of life of patients with cancer. The literature published between November 2000 and October 2001 continues to support a positive effect of epoetin-alpha therapy on the quality of life of patients with cancer and includes investigations of dosing schedules more convenient for patients and trials of longer-acting versions of epoetin-alpha, such as the novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein. Future studies that incorporate measures of patient-reported outcomes and rigorous methodologic designs are needed to strengthen and elucidate this association between these pharmacologic therapies for cancer-related anemia and quality of life.
Yount
Susan
S
Center on Outcomes, Research and Education, Evanston Northwestern Healthcare and Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60201, USA. s-yount@northwestern.edu
Lai
Jin-Shei
JS
Cella
David
D
D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life
D004921:Erythropoietin