title: Evaluation of clinical use and effectiveness of darbepoetin alfa in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the patterns of use of darbepoetin alfa in Spanish centers, and to evaluate its effectiveness in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia under clinical practice conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, retrospective, multicenter study in adult patients with non-myeloid malignancies who initiated chemotherapy and darbepoetin alfa. Data was collected for up to 16 weeks or until treatment discontinuation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 685 patients (72.7% with solid tumors and 27.3% with hematologic malignancies) were included in the study. Median age was 64.7 years (range 18.5-88.9 years), 50.7% were women, 82.4% had ECOG status 0-1 and 80.5% had stage III/IV cancer. At darbepoetin initiation, mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 100 g/L (SD 10), with 11.0% and 23.1% of patients below 90 g/L in solid and hematologic malignancies, respectively. A decrease in transfusion requirements was observed between weeks 5-16 with respect to weeks 0-16 (13.3% [95% CI: 10.7 to 15.9] versus 19.0% [95% CI: 16.0 to 22.0]). Hb levels were significantly increased during the treatment (mean change of 10.4 g/L for solid tumors [p < 0.001], and 16.6 g/L for hematologic malignancies [p < 0.001]). The percentage of patients with baseline Hb level <110 g/L who achieved an Hb level ≥110 g/L during the study was 66.5% (95% CI: 62.5% to 70.5%). Six serious adverse reactions were considered related to darbepoetin alfa (thromboembolic events, 1.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the limitation of a retrospective design, our results suggest that darbepoetin alfa is a well tolerated treatment that increases hemoglobin levels and reduces the need for transfusion in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in clinical practice.
authors: Clínica Vistahermosa, Alicante, Spain.
authors: Aurelia
authors: A
authors: Bustos
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Álvarez
authors: Pedro Miguel
authors: PM
authors: Aramburo
authors: Francisco
authors: F
authors: Carabantes
authors: Nieves
authors: N
authors: Díaz
authors: Jesús
authors: J
authors: Florián
authors: Martín
authors: M
authors: Lázaro
authors: José María Martín
authors: JM
authors: de Segovia
authors: José Antonio
authors: JA
authors: Gasquet
authors: Adrián
authors: A
authors: Alegre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006397:Hematinics; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa