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Randomized Comparison of Epoetin Alfa (40,000 U Weekly) and Darbepoetin Alfa (200 µg Every 2 Weeks) in Anemic Patients with Cancer Receiving Chemotherapy

^a St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA; ^b North Mississippi Hematology and Oncology Associates, Tupelo, Mississippi, USA; ^c Pacific Coast Hematology/Oncology Medical Group, Fountain Valley, California, USA; ^d Hutchinson Clinic, Hutchinson, Kansas, USA; ^e Pacific Cancer Medical Center, Anaheim, California, USA; ^f Ortho Biotech Clinical Affairs, LLC, Bridgewater, New Jersey, USA

Roger Waltzman, M.D., Saint Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, 325 West 15th Street, New York, New York 10011, USA. Telephone: 212-604-6058; Fax: 212-604-6038; e-mail: rwaltzman{at}aptiumoncology.com

This is the first randomized, open-label, multicenter trial designed and powered to directly compare the hemoglobin (Hb) response to epoetin alfa (EPO), 40,000 U once weekly (QW), with that to darbepoetin alfa (DARB), 200 µ g every 2 weeks (Q2W), in anemic patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy (CT). Transfusion requirements, quality of life (QOL), and safety also were evaluated. Adults with solid tumors scheduled to receive CT for 12 weeks and with baseline Hb 11 g/dl were randomized to receive either EPO 40,000 U QW (n = 178) or DARB 200 µg Q2W (n = 180) s.c. for up to 16 weeks. Doses were increased for nonresponders (Hb increase <1 g/dl) after 4 (EPO) or 6 (DARB) weeks, as per National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, and were reduced for a rapid rise in Hb (>1.3 g/dl [EPO] or >1.0 g/dl [DARB] within any 2-week period) or for an Hb level >13 g/dl. The proportion of patients achieving a 1-g/dl Hb rise by week 5, the primary end point, was significantly higher with EPO (47.0%) than with DARB (32.5%), and EPO-treated patients achieved a 1-g/dl Hb increase significantly earlier than those receiving DARB (median, 35 days versus 46 days). The mean increase in Hb from baseline was significantly higher at weeks 5, 9, 13, and the end of the study with EPO than with DARB. The number of units transfused per patient was significantly lower for the EPO group than for the DARB group. The proportions of patients requiring transfusions, mean QOL improvements, and tolerability profiles were similar in the two groups.

Key Words. Epoetin alfa • Darbepoetin alfa • Cancer • Anemia • Transfusions • Randomized trial

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