title: Once-weekly epoetin beta (30,000 IU) in anemic patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy.
abstract: Anemia occurs frequently in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy and has a negative impact on quality of life (QoL). Erythropoietic proteins effectively increase hemoglobin (Hb) levels, reduce transfusion requirements and improve QoL in anemic patients with a range of malignancies. This prospective, observational study evaluated epoetin beta 30,000 IU once weekly in patients with lung cancer in a real-life, clinical-practice setting. Forty patients (72.5% with NSCLC and 27.5% with SCLC) were treated with epoetin beta during any cycle of chemotherapy when Hb decreased to <12 g/dL. Hb levels were assessed at regular intervals and transfusion needs were monitored throughout the study. In total, 72.5% of patients required epoetin treatment by the second cycle of chemotherapy. Epoetin beta treatment duration ranged from 1 to >9 (median 4) weeks. Mean (+/-S.D.) baseline Hb was 10.4+/-1.2 g/dL. Epoetin beta was associated with a rapid increase in Hb levels, with a mean increase of 1.3 g/dL by week 4. Most patients (95%) remained transfusion-free throughout the study. Epoetin beta was well tolerated. This early intervention strategy with epoetin beta 30,000 IU once weekly is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for anemia in patients with lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Vienna, Währinger Gürtel 18, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. robert.pirker@meduniwien.ac.at
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirker
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: Wilma
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Minar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin