Darbepoetin alfa for the treatment of cancer-related anemia: an update.
Anemia is a common and potentially debilitating complication of cancer. Darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp, Amgen) has been in routine clinical use for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia since 2002. The extended half-life of darbepoetin alfa permits less frequent and consequently more flexible dosing than other erythropoietic therapies. Data suggest that hemoglobin levels can be effectively and safely increased with darbepoetin alfa in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy (patients with treatment-induced anemia), and in those who are not receiving chemotherapy (patients with tumor-induced anemia). This review provides an overview of clinical trial results, particularly those exploring flexible, extended dosing schedules.
Medical University Vienna, Department of Internal Medicine I, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. robert.pirker@meduniwien.ac.at
Robert
R
Pirker
D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006207:Half-Life; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa