title: [Treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia].
abstract: The prognosis of cancer patients with anemia is poor. In Japan, these patients are treated only with red blood cell transfusions, and doctors cannot use erythropoiesis stimulating agents(ESAs)such as epoetin and darbepoetin. On the other hand, ESAs are widely used in the USA and Europe to treat patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia. However, the results of randomized controlled trials(RCTs)and meta-analysis have suggested that the use of ESAs was correlated with increasing incidence of venous thromboembolism(VTE)and mortality. The American Society of Clinical Oncology(ASCO)and the American Society of Hematology(ASH)guidelines, revised in 2010, recommend the minimal use of ESAs for patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia, except for anemic cancer patients who are not currently receiving chemotherapy. A change in the target hemoglobin(Hb)level to achieve a concentration of 12 g/dL was recommended in 2007 as the lowest concentration required to avoid transfusions. We discuss the cause of anemia in cancer patients, and examine the current state of the clinical use and problems associated with ESAs.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Medical Oncology, Nippon Medical School Musashi Kosugi Hospital.
authors.forename: Genmu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kadokura
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumata
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006397:Hematinics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006397:Hematinics