title: Intravenous iron therapy for anemic cancer patients: a review of recently published clinical studies.
abstract: Based on available literature and on the present review, IV iron administration to anemic cancer patients can increase significantly the level of Hb, probably independently from the precise mechanism of anemia itself. However, in future studies, the benefit should be evaluated taking into account whether the anemia is due to absolute or functional iron deficiency; therapeutic modalities might be different for these two conditions. Along the same lines, it appears important to further evaluate the respective roles of PO and IV iron therapies and the modalities of their use in clinical practice. Until the results of such studies are available, it appears reasonable to propose IV iron therapy to anemic cancer patients as the resulting rise of Hb level may increase their quality of life and performance status and reduce the need for erythropoietin-stimulating agents and/or blood transfusions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, Rue Héger-Bordet, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, Rue Héger-Bordet, 1000, Brussels, Belgium. jean.klastersky@bordet.be.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klastersky
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, Rue Héger-Bordet, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levacq
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, Rue Héger-Bordet, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wissam
authors.affiliation: Data Center, Institut Jules Bordet, 1, Rue Héger-Bordet, 1000, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paesmans
mesh_terms: D061605:Administration, Intravenous / Q000379:methods*; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Cancer patients; Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; Iron deficiency anemia; Iron therapy