TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical benefits of once-weekly epoetin alfa in anemic patients with colorectal cancer receiving chemotherapy
AU - Chu, Edward
AU - Einhorn, Lawrence H.
AU - Lefebvre, Patrick
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2006/5
Y1 - 2006/5
N2 - In a large, 16-week, prospective study of 2,964 anemic patients with various cancers undergoing chemotherapy,once-weekly subcutaneous administration of 40,000 U of epoetin alfa, with potential escalation to 60,000 U, increased hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, decreased transfusion requirements, and improved quality of life (QOL) as assessed using the Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA) for energy, activity, and overall QOL and the Functional Assessment in Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) QOL instrument. A retrospective subset analysis conducted in 244 colorectal cancer patients enrolled in the study showed statistically significant improvements from baseline to final readings in LASA energy, activity, and overall QOL and FACT-An Anemia Symptoms and Fatigue subscale scores (P < 0.02). Moreover, patients who achieved larger improvements in Hgb levels also demonstrated greater percentage improvements in QOL over baseline measurements. Mean Hgb levels increased by 1.2 g/dL after 4 weeks of treatment and by 1.6 g/dL by study end, independent of red blood cell transfusion within 28 days prior to the Hgb assessment. Hematopoietic response (Hgb level ≥ 12 g/dL and/or increase in Hgb level ≥ 2 g/dL, independent of transfusion) was observed in 61% of patients (139/229). Additionally, the proportion of patients receiving transfusions decreased from 17% at baseline to 4% during the final month of therapy. Epoetin alfa was well tolerated, with no evidence of unexpected adverse events. Except for significantly higher QOL scores at baseline, results for the cohort of colorectal cancer patients were similar to those for patients with other cancer types in the main study population.
AB - In a large, 16-week, prospective study of 2,964 anemic patients with various cancers undergoing chemotherapy,once-weekly subcutaneous administration of 40,000 U of epoetin alfa, with potential escalation to 60,000 U, increased hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, decreased transfusion requirements, and improved quality of life (QOL) as assessed using the Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA) for energy, activity, and overall QOL and the Functional Assessment in Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) QOL instrument. A retrospective subset analysis conducted in 244 colorectal cancer patients enrolled in the study showed statistically significant improvements from baseline to final readings in LASA energy, activity, and overall QOL and FACT-An Anemia Symptoms and Fatigue subscale scores (P < 0.02). Moreover, patients who achieved larger improvements in Hgb levels also demonstrated greater percentage improvements in QOL over baseline measurements. Mean Hgb levels increased by 1.2 g/dL after 4 weeks of treatment and by 1.6 g/dL by study end, independent of red blood cell transfusion within 28 days prior to the Hgb assessment. Hematopoietic response (Hgb level ≥ 12 g/dL and/or increase in Hgb level ≥ 2 g/dL, independent of transfusion) was observed in 61% of patients (139/229). Additionally, the proportion of patients receiving transfusions decreased from 17% at baseline to 4% during the final month of therapy. Epoetin alfa was well tolerated, with no evidence of unexpected adverse events. Except for significantly higher QOL scores at baseline, results for the cohort of colorectal cancer patients were similar to those for patients with other cancer types in the main study population.
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M3 - Article
C2 - 16724648
AN - SCOPUS:33646789096
SN - 1544-6794
VL - 4
SP - 243
EP - 250
JO - Journal of Supportive Oncology
JF - Journal of Supportive Oncology
IS - 5
ER -