PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QOL) changes with epoetin alfa therapy for anemia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anemic cancer patients were enrolled onto this prospective, open-label study from 34 centers across Canada. The trial had two cohorts: patients who were and were not receiving chemotherapy during the 16-week study. All patients initially received epoetin alfa 150 IU/kg subcutaneously three times per week. The dose was doubled after 4 weeks for patients who did not experience sufficient response. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients enrolled in the nonchemotherapy cohort, statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in QOL were observed with epoetin alfa therapy using both the FACT-An questionnaire and linear analog scale assessment. Hemoglobin levels increased significantly (P <.001; mean increase 2.5 g/dL from baseline to end of study) and these increases were positively correlated with improved QOL and change in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of patients who required blood transfusions. The 218 patients in the chemotherapy cohort also experienced significant improvements in QOL, decreased transfusion use, and increased hemoglobin levels that correlated with QOL improvements and change in ECOG scores. Epoetin alfa was well-tolerated in both cohorts. CONCLUSION: Epoetin alfa administered to patients with cancer-related anemia for up to 16 weeks resulted in significantly improved QOL, increased hemoglobin levels, and decreased transfusion use. These benefits were observed in cancer patients who were not receiving chemotherapy as well as those who were.
PURPOSE: To evaluate efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QOL) changes with epoetin alfa therapy for anemia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Anemic cancerpatients were enrolled onto this prospective, open-label study from 34 centers across Canada. The trial had two cohorts: patients who were and were not receiving chemotherapy during the 16-week study. All patients initially received epoetin alfa 150 IU/kg subcutaneously three times per week. The dose was doubled after 4 weeks for patients who did not experience sufficient response. RESULTS: Of the 183 patients enrolled in the nonchemotherapy cohort, statistically significant and clinically relevant improvements in QOL were observed with epoetin alfa therapy using both the FACT-An questionnaire and linear analog scale assessment. Hemoglobin levels increased significantly (P <.001; mean increase 2.5 g/dL from baseline to end of study) and these increases were positively correlated with improved QOL and change in Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scores. There was a significant reduction in the percentage of patients who required blood transfusions. The 218 patients in the chemotherapy cohort also experienced significant improvements in QOL, decreased transfusion use, and increased hemoglobin levels that correlated with QOL improvements and change in ECOG scores. Epoetin alfa was well-tolerated in both cohorts. CONCLUSION:Epoetin alfa administered to patients with cancer-related anemia for up to 16 weeks resulted in significantly improved QOL, increased hemoglobin levels, and decreased transfusion use. These benefits were observed in cancerpatients who were not receiving chemotherapy as well as those who were.
Authors: Matti S Aapro; David C Dale; Michael Blasi; Brenda Sarokhan; Fawzia Ahmed; Richard C Woodman Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2006-06-07 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Heinz Ludwig; Thomas Auberger; Otto Ch Burghuber; Michael Gnant; Georg Hopfinger; Ulrich Jäger; Felix Keil; Gabriela Kornek; Werner Linkesch; Edgar Petru; Robert Pirker; Elisabeth Pittermann; Alexander Reinthaller; Hellmut Samonigg; Günther Steger; Felix Stockenhuber; Michael Studnicka; Günter Weiss; Christoph Zielinski Journal: Wien Klin Wochenschr Date: 2008 Impact factor: 1.704
Authors: Vicente Alberola Candel; Alfredo Carrato Mena; Eduardo Díaz-Rubio García; Pere Gascón Vilaplana; Manuel González Barón; Miguel Martín Jiménez; Emilio Alba Conejo; Javier Cassinello Espinosa; Ramon Colomer; Juan Jesús Cruz Hernández; Agustí Barnadas i Molins; Carlos Camps Herrero; Ana Ma Casas Fernández de Tejerina; Joan Carulla Torrent; Manuel Constenla Figueiras; Joaquin Gavilá Gregori; Ma Dolores Isla Casado; Bartomeu Massuti Sureda; Mariano Provencio Pulla; César Augusto Rodríguez Sánchez; Jaime Sanz Ortiz Journal: Clin Transl Oncol Date: 2009-11 Impact factor: 3.405