Darbepoetin alfa administered once every three weeks for the treatment of anemia in elderly patients with non-myeloid tumors receiving chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to describe the hematological response to darbepoetin alfa (DA) under daily clinical practice conditions in anemic elderly patients with non-myeloid tumors receiving chemotherapy.


METHODS
This was a prospective, observational, multicenter study in elderly (≥65 years) patients with non-myeloid cancer receiving DA (500 μg every 3 weeks) for chemotherapy-induced anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] level ≤11.0 g/dL).


RESULTS
A total of 102 anemic patients with solid tumors and 51 with hematological malignancies were included in 28 centers in Spain. Mean age (±SD) was 73.4 (±5.8) years, and mean baseline Hb level was 10.0 (±0.8) g/dL. DA was administered for a median of 8 weeks. Of the 115 subjects with a post-baseline Hb value, the percentage of patients who achieved a hematopoietic response (Hb increase ≥2 g/dL or reaching ≥12 g/dL without transfusions in the previous 28 days) was 69.7% (95% CI 56.1% to 83.3%). Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue subscale scores increased during the study (median change 1.0 [Q1 -5.0, Q3 9.0], P = 0.04). One patient (0.7%) experienced a non-serious adverse reaction (cutaneous rash).


CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that DA is an effective and well-tolerated therapy for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in elderly patients.
Gaspar
G
Esquerdo
Mercedes
M
Doménech
Pilar
P
López
Carme
C
Pedro
Kenny
K
Villadiego
Manuel
M
Constenla
Pedro
P
Sánchez-Rovira
José A
JA
Gasquet
César A
CA
Rodríguez
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000740:Anemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006397:Hematinics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006397:Hematinics; D006454:Hemoglobins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D000068256:Darbepoetin alfa