Systemic chemotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced and/or inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: impact of anemia and role of recombinant human erythropoietin.
A review of the incidence and management of anemia in elderly patients with head and neck carcinoma treated with systemic chemotherapy. The role of recombinant human erythropoietin in preventing or correcting chemotherapy-related anemia has been focused. Data concerning the prospective use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) in a series of unfit elderly patients (EPs) treated with carboplatin plus 5-fluorouracil. Patients were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous rhEpo 10,000U three times per week (TIW) (23 elderly patients) or no treatment (22 control patients). Recombinant hEpo was able to prevent anemia and to reduce transfusional requirements in treated patients as compared to untreated controls with a statistically significant difference. rhEpo also caused a positive effect on quality of life (QoL) parameters.
Gebbia
Vittorio
V
Medical Oncology Researcher, Chair of Hematology, University of Palermo, Via Alessandro Paternostro n. 48, 9013 Palermo, Italy. vittorio.gebbia@tin.it
Di Marco
Pietro
P
Citarrella
Pietro
P
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin