Epoetin beta (NeoRecormon) corrects anaemia in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone metastases.
BACKGROUND
Severe anaemia is common in patients with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).


METHODS
We evaluated the efficacy of epoetin beta in correcting anaemia and maintaining haemoglobin (Hb) levels in this group of patients. Patients with HRPC, bone metastases and anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dl) were included. Epoetin beta, 30,000 IU per week in three divided doses, was administered subcutaneously, with iron supplementation when needed. If Hb increased by < 1 g/dl during the first 4 weeks of therapy the epoetin dose was increased (increments of 5,000 IU per dose) at fortnightly intervals to a maximum of 60,000 IU per week. Patients with haematopoietic response (Hb increase > or = 2 g/dl from baseline or Hb level > or = 12 g/dl without blood transfusions) went on to receive epoetin beta 10,000 IU once weekly for up to 24 weeks.


RESULTS
All 29 evaluable patients demonstrated a haematopoietic response to epoetin beta treatment. None of the patients required blood transfusions. All patients showed improvements in quality of life (assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire). Hb levels were maintained for the remainder of the trial. Epoetin beta was very well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Epoetin beta therapy resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement in Hb levels in patients with HRPC metastatic to bone.
Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
J
J
Bogdanos
D
D
Karamanolakis
K
K
Milathianakis
P
P
Repousis
A
A
Chloraki-Bobota
H
H
Majed
E
E
Pagalou-Thoua
A
A
Tsintavis
M
M
Koutsilieris
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin