| HOME | HELP | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
The Oncologist, Vol. 10, No. 8, 642-650, September 2005; doi:10.1634/theoncologist.10-8-642
© 2005 AlphaMed Press
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
Correspondence: 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.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  X. Song, S. R Long, W. D Marder, S. D Sullivan, and J. Kallich The Impact of Methodological Approach on Cost Findings in Comparison of Epoetin Alfa with Darbepoetin Alfa Ann. Pharmacother., July 1, 2009; 43(7): 1203 - 1210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 R. G. Wenzel Biosimilars: Illustration of scientific issues in two examples Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., July 15, 2008; 65(14_Supplement_6): S9 - S15. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 J.-P. Spano and D. Khayat Treatment Options for Anemia, Taking Risks into Consideration: Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agents Versus Transfusions Oncologist, May 1, 2008; 13(suppl_3): 27 - 32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 S. S Shord, J.M. Hamilton Jr, and S. Cuellar Parenteral iron with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for chemotherapy-induced anemia Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, March 1, 2008; 14(1): 5 - 22. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. J. Muller and D. Baribeault Extended-dosage-interval regimens of erythropoietic agents in chemotherapy-induced anemia Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., December 15, 2007; 64(24): 2547 - 2556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Vekeman, R. S. McKenzie, P. Lefebvre, S. H. Watson, S. H. Mody, C. T. Piech, and M. S. Duh Dose and cost comparison of erythropoietic agents in the inpatient hospital setting Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., September 15, 2007; 64(18): 1943 - 1949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. N. Schwartz Anemia in patients with cancer: Incidence, causes, impact, management, and use of treatment guidelines and protocols Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., February 1, 2007; 64(3_Supplement_2): S5 - S13. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. E. Reeder Anemia in cancer and critical care patients: Pharmacoeconomic considerations Am. J. Health Syst. Pharm., February 1, 2007; 64(3_Supplement_2): S22 - S27. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
P. Cremieux, F. Vekeman, and P. Lefebvre Dose conversion and cost effectiveness of erythropoietic therapies in chemotherapy-related anemia: a Canadian application Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, September 1, 2006; 12(3): 165 - 178. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. P. Steensma and C. L. Loprinzi Epoetin Alfa and Darbepoetin Alfa Go Head to Head J. Clin. Oncol., May 20, 2006; 24(15): 2233 - 2236. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. C Yang Comment: Epoetin Alfa Versus Darbepoetin Alfa for Cancer Patients with Treatment-Related Anemia Ann. Pharmacother., May 1, 2006; 40(5): 998 - 999. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. J Cersosimo and D. R Jacobson Authors' Reply Ann. Pharmacother., May 1, 2006; 40(5): 999 - 999. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. R. Nowrousian Regarding "randomized comparison of epoetin alfa and darbepoetin alfa in anemic patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy". Oncologist, May 1, 2006; 11(5): 535 - 536. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Boccia, I. A. Malik, V. Raja, S. Kahanic, R. Liu, T. Lillie, D. Tomita, B. Clowney, and P. Silberstein Darbepoetin alfa administered every three weeks is effective for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia. Oncologist, April 1, 2006; 11(4): 409 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Waltzman In Reply. Oncologist, January 1, 2006; 11(5): 536 - 537. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
| HOME | HELP | CONTACT US | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| THE ONCOLOGIST | STEM CELLS | CME | ALPHAMED PRESS JOURNALS |
Copyright © 2005 by AlphaMed Press.