Early intervention with epoetin beta prevents severe anaemia in lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy: a subgroup analysis of the NeoPrevent study.
The NeoPrevent study showed that early intervention with epoetin beta could prevent severe anaemia in patients with solid tumours receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. An early intervention strategy may be particularly warranted in patients with lung cancer, as anaemia is very common in these patients and can be severe. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of epoetin beta in the subpopulation of patients with lung cancer included in the NeoPrevent study. Patients were enrolled if baseline haemoglobin (Hb) levels were <or=13 g/dl (men) or <or=12 g/dl (women), or fell to these levels during platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients received epoetin beta 150 IU/kg three times weekly, until 4 weeks after last chemotherapy cycle. The anaemia prevention response was measured as the proportion of patients with an Hb response (Hb increase of >1g/dl) plus the proportion whose Hb was maintained at +/-1g/dl of baseline. Quality of life (QoL) was measured using the linear analogue scale assessment. The NeoPrevent study included 255 patients in total, and the results for the 102 patients with lung cancer (non-small-cell lung cancer 64%; small-cell lung cancer 36%) are presented here. The overall anaemia prevention response was 90%, with Hb response in 60% of patients and maintenance of baseline Hb level in 30%. Only 9% of patients required transfusions. QoL improved significantly in patients with Hb response (p<0.01) and was maintained in non-responders (p>or=0.578). Epoetin beta was effective in preventing severe anaemia in lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy.
de Castro
Javier
J
Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid), Paseo de la Castellana, 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain. jcastro.hulp@salud.madrid.org
Belda-Iniesta
Cristóbal
C
Isla
Dolores
D
Dómine
Manuel
M
Sánchez
Alfredo
A
Batiste
Eduard
E
Barón
Manuel González
MG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D006454:Hemoglobins; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin