Anaemia of lung cancer is due to impaired erythroid marrow response to erythropoietin stimulation as well as relative inadequacy of erythropoietin production.

Many studies have been done in order to elucidate the pathogenesis of the anaemia of chronic disorders accompanying cancer, with conflicting results. This is probably due to the heterogeneity of the patient population selected for these studies (many patients treated by chemotherapy). To avoid this pitfall, in this study a very homogenous group of chemotherapy and radiotherapy-naive patients with lung cancer were selected. Serum erythropoietin and soluble transferrin receptor measurements suggested that the anaemia of non-treated lung cancer is mainly due to an impaired erythroid marrow response to erythropoietin stimulation. However, a relative inadequacy of erythropoietin production may also contribute.