title: Recombinant human erythropoietin for platinum-based chemotherapy-induced anaemia: A single-centre randomised study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) represents an attractive alternative to red blood cell (RBC) transfusions for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anaemia. This prospective, controlled study evaluated the safety and efficacy of rHuEPO in reducing RBC transfusion requirements in patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with histologically proven malignancies, haemoglobin (Hb) values <10.5 g/dl, and receiving platinum-based chemotherapy were randomised to either 150 IU/kg of rHuEPO subcutaneously (s.c.) x3/week (group A), or simple follow-up plus RBC transfusions upon indication (group B). All patients received 200mg of elementary iron (Fe) daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 47 patients were randomised to either group A (n=24) or the control group B (n=23). There was a statistically significant increase of Hb (p <0.0002) and haematocrit (Ht) (p <0.002) in group A patients compared to the control group B. The levels of Hb in group A patients increased significantly with each chemotherapy cycle number. There was a statistically significant (p <0.04) difference in the number of transfusions between the two groups, with only 37.5% of group A patients requiring a RBC transfusion at any time during the study, compared to all patients (100%) in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of rHuEPO is an effective intervention for the management of chemotherapy-induced anaemia, significantly reducing RBC transfusion requirements in patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. Hb and Ht levels proved reliable indicators for response to rHuEPO treatment.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Department of Medical Oncology, "Agii Anargiri" Cancer Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aravantinos
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linardou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makridaki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Laiou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zafiropoulos
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janninis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sofos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gikas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samantas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Markantoni-Kyroudi