This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME: Take the course for this article: Management of Cancer-Related Anemia in Patients with Breast or Gynecologic ... eLetters: Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services E-mail this article link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints/Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barrett-Lee, P. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barrett-Lee, P.

Management of Cancer-Related Anemia in Patients with Breast or Gynecologic Cancer: New Insights Based on Results from the European Cancer Anemia Survey

^a Velindre Cancer Centre, Whitchurch, Cardiff, United Kingdom; ^b Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany; ^c Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain; ^d Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands; ^e Centre Antoine-Lacassagne, Nice, France; ^f ZNA Middelheim, Antwerp, Belgium; ^g University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

Key Words. Breast cancer • Gynecologic cancer • ECAS • Anemia

Peter J. Barrett-Lee, M.D., Velindre Cancer Centre, Whitchurch, Cardiff CF14 2TL, United Kingdom. Telephone: 44-29-20-615-888; Fax: 44-29-203-16-267;-mail: peter.barrett-lee{at}velindre-tr.wales.nhs.uk

The incidence, prevalence, and treatment of anemia (hemoglobin [Hb] <12 g/dl) in women with breast cancer and gynecologic cancer were evaluated using data from the European Cancer Anemia Survey (ECAS). Adult patients with newly diagnosed treated or untreated disease, persistent/recurrent disease, and disease in remission were enrolled and followed for up to six chemotherapy cycles or six evaluation points within a 6-month period. At enrollment, 30.4% of breast cancer patients and 49.1% of gynecologic cancer patients were anemic. A significant correlation was shown between low Hb level and poor performance status (World Health Organization criteria) at enrollment for both breast cancer and gynecologic cancer patients. In all, 62.4% of breast cancer patients and 81.4% of gynecologic cancer patients were anemic at some time during the survey. The incidence of anemia, determined in a carefully defined population, was 59.8% for breast cancer patients and 74.8% for gynecologic cancer patients. Despite the high prevalence and incidence of anemia, only 26.3% and 42.7% of patients in the respective groups received anemia treatment. In breast cancer patients, the mean Hb trigger was 10 g/dl for epoetin treatment and 8.6 g/dl for transfusion; corresponding values for gynecologic cancer patients were 10.1 g/dl and 9.1 g/dl. Logistic regression analyses in the overall ECAS population identified five factors as significant and suitable predictors of anemia: lower initial Hb, having lung or gynecologic cancer versus gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer, any other cancer versus gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer, treatment with platinum chemotherapy, and being female. The ECAS data highlight the need for greater awareness of the adverse impact of anemia on cancer patients and for optimal anemia management to ensure maximal patient quality of life.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Aapro, R. C. Leonard, A. Barnadas, M. Marangolo, M. Untch, N. Malamos, J. Mayordomo, D. Reichert, J. L. Pedrini, L. Ukarma, et al. Effect of Once-Weekly Epoetin Beta on Survival in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Anthracycline- and/or Taxane-Based Chemotherapy: Results of the Breast Cancer--Anemia and the Value of Erythropoietin (BRAVE) Study J. Clin. Oncol., February 1, 2008; 26(4): 592 - 598. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]