title: Correlation between variation in quality of life and change in hemoglobin level after treatment with epoetin alfa 40,000 IU administered once-weekly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia is frequently associated with cancer due to the disease itself and antineoplastic treatments. This open-label, uncontrolled, multi-center study evaluated the effects of once-weekly (qw) epoetin alfa 40,000 IU on hemoglobin (Hb) levels and quality of life (QoL) in anemic patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 522 patients with Hb level < or =12 g/dL received epoetin alfa 40,000 IU qw subcutaneously for 9-20 weeks to reach and maintain Hb range of 12-14 g/dL. QoL was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An [anemia sub-scale]) and Cancer Linear Analogue Scale (CLAS) at study entry, after two chemotherapy cycles, and at study end.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean baseline Hb was 10.43 g/dL. Hb increases (g/dL) from baseline after 4, 8, 12 weeks and at study end were 1.07, 1.77, 1.92 and 1.71 g/dL, respectively. Response rates (Hb increase > or =1 and > or =2 g/dL during trial) were 81% and 61%, respectively. Mean increases in the FACT-An score from baseline (mean 55.4) were 3.1 after two chemotherapy cycles and 3.3 at study end; mean increases in the CLAS score from baseline (58.4 mm) were 5.9 mm after two chemotherapy cycles and 6.5 mm at study end.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The greatest QoL increase was recorded when patients approached Hb level of 12 g/dL, independent of the baseline Hb level. Hb changes from baseline to trial end were related to corresponding changes in the FACT-An score. A positive correlation was also observed in patients with progressive disease. Adverse events were essentially those associated with chemotherapy. Incidence of thrombovascular events (6.7%) did not differ from the expected standard treatment in cancer patients. Epoetin alfa 40,000 IU qw increased Hb levels and improved or preserved QoL.
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Cardarelli Hospital, Via Cardarelli, 9, 80131 Napoli, Italy. giacomo.carteni@ospedalecardarelli.it
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Cartenì
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Giannetta
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Ucci
authors: Giorgio
authors: G
authors: De Signoribus
authors: Aldo
authors: A
authors: Vecchione
authors: Graziella
authors: G
authors: Pinotti
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Puglisi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Contillo
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Pezzella
authors: Simona
authors: S
authors: Orecchia
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Beccaglia
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068817:Epoetin Alfa