Every-three-week administration of darbepoetin alfa in women with chemotherapy-associated anemia.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness of every-three-week administration of darbepoetin alfa in women with chemotherapy-associated anemia was evaluated.


METHODS
Women receiving chemotherapy for gynecological tumors who had a hemoglobin concentration of <10 g/dL were recruited from an obstetrics and gynecology service. Study patients received subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa 6.75 microg/kg, followed by 4.5 microg/kg every three weeks for a total of up to six doses. Hematopoietic response and mean changes in hemoglobin concentrations were evaluated. The Functional Assessment in Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) survey was self-administered before and after study completion to evaluate the patients' quality of life.


RESULTS
The mean+/-S.D. age and weight for the 14 patients recruited (12 of whom were assessable) were 52.1+/-14 years and 64.6+/-19.8 kg, respectively. The mean initial and maintenance doses were 442 and 301.6 microg, respectively. The overall hematopoietic response was 64.3%, of which 35.7% were complete and 28.6% were partial. Peak response occurred at weeks 9 and 12. The mean+/-S.D. change in hemoglobin concentration was 1.6+/-1.51 g/dL. Treatment failure was predicted by week 9 (n=2). Maintenance doses were withheld if a patient's hemoglobin concentration exceeded 12 g/dL (n=3). The mean+/-S.D. point differential for FACT-An pretreatment and posttreatment scores was 5.8+/-4.71 (n=6).


CONCLUSIONS
Every-three-week administration of subcutaneous darbepoetin alfa produced a complete or partial hematopoietic response in 11 of 14 women with chemotherapy- associated anemia. A quality-of-life indicator generally improved among the 6 patients for whom posttreatment quality-of-life data were available.
Goram
Adrian L
AL
Hematology/Oncology and Medicine, Sacred Heart Health System, Pensacola, FL 32505, USA. algoram@bellsouth.net
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000747:Anemia, Hypochromic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006410:Hematopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa