title: Efficacy of epoetin-beta 30,000 IU/week in correcting anaemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumours subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the project was to assess the effectiveness and safety of weekly epoetin-beta (EB) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCTRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this clinical prospective and multicentre cohort study EB was administered at a dose of 30,000 IU/ week, during CCTRT and in the four weeks thereafter, and suspended if haemoglobin (Hb) increased >2 g/dl or Hb >12-13 g/dl. Effectiveness was defi ned as Hb increase ≥1 g/dl vs. baseline. Time to response, treatment toxicity and transfusion requirements were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EB was effective in 75.8% of the evaluable population within a median of four weeks from EB initiation, without blood transfusions. Over 80% of all patients remained below the threshold (Hb ≤13 g/dl) and no study drug-related adverse reactions were recorded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly EB proved to be effective and well tolerated by patients with GIC subjected to CCTRT.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Santiago de Compostela, Travesía Choupana, s/n, ES-15706 Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain. antonio.gomez.caamano@sergas.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salgado
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valladares-Ayerbes
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carballo
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Candamio
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peleteiro
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C103998:epoetin beta; D004921:Erythropoietin