title: Epoetins and [symbol: see text] darbepoetin alfa in malignant disease.
abstract: Anaemia is common in people with cancer, and may reduce their quality of life and life expectancy. Blood transfusion can increase haemoglobin levels but is usually reserved for those with moderate anaemia (haemoglobin level below 10 g/dL). A potential alternative is treatment with one of the human recombinant forms of erythropoietin, epoetin alfa (Eprex--Janssen-Cilag) or epoetin beta (NeoRecormon--Roche), or their hyperglycosylated derivative [symbol: see text] darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp--Amgen). These products have improved the management of patients with chronic renal failure who are anaemic. Here we assess the place of the epoetins and darbepoetin alfa in managing anaemia in patients with cancer.
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D016527:Drug Costs; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006397:Hematinics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa