title: Increased hemoglobin levels and improved quality-of-life assessments during epoetin alfa treatment in anemic cancer patients: results of a prospective, multicenter German trial.
abstract: This prospective, open-label, multicenter study was undertaken to determine the safety and efficacy of epoetin alfa in increasing hemoglobin levels and improving quality of life (QOL), specifically fatigue, in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy (n=702). Epoetin alfa, 10,000 IU three times a week s.c. for 8-18 weeks, increased the mean hemoglobin level relative to baseline (1.0 +/- 1.5 g/dl by week 4 and > or =1.7 g/dl from week 10 through the end of the trial), with 63.4% of patients experiencing > or =2 g/dl increases in hemoglobin above baseline at some time during the study. Fatigue is an important component of QOL. Physicians, nurses, and patients independently assessed patient fatigue level on a linear-analogue scale. Although all three groups reported improvements in patient fatigue over the course of the study (p <.0001), the magnitude of fatigue ratings and their relationship to tumor response and to hemoglobin level varied by group. Overall, epoetin alfa was well tolerated and effective in improving hemoglobin levels and decreasing fatigue in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I, Hämatologie and Onkologie, Klinikum Bayreuth, Preuschwitzer Str. 101, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany. UUReinhardt@t-online.de
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Augustinos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tulusan
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Angermund
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005221:Fatigue; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa