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The Oncologist, Vol. 12, No. 5, 584-593, May 2007; doi:10.1634/theoncologist.12-5-584
© 2007 AlphaMed Press

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Symptom Management and Supportive Care

The Effectiveness of Darbepoetin Alfa Administered Every 3 Weeks on Hematologic Outcomes and Quality of Life in Older Patients With Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia

Ralph Bocciaa, Tom Lillieb, Dianne Tomitab, Lodovico Balduccic

aGeorgetown University/Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Bethesda, Maryland, USA; bAmgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California, USA; cH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, Florida, USA

Key Words. Darbepoetin alfa • Chemotherapy • Anemia • Hemoglobin

Correspondence: Ralph Boccia, M.D., Georgetown University/Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, 6420 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817, USA. Telephone: 301-571-0019; Fax: 301-571-0988; e-mail: rboccia{at}ccbdmd.com

Chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) may substantially impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of older cancer patients. This exploratory analysis evaluated the effect of darbepoetin alfa administered as a fixed dose (300 µg) every 3 weeks (Q3W) on hematologic outcomes, HRQoL, and safety in older (≥65 years old) versus younger (<65 years old) patients with CIA (hemoglobin <11g/dl). Patients were categorized by age at screening: <65, ≥65 to <70, ≥70 to <75, ≥75 to <80, and ≥80 years old. Patients who received at least one dose of darbepoetin alfa were included in the analysis; of 1,493 patients, 724 were ≥65 years old. Age did not appear to influence hematologic outcomes after treatment with darbepoetin alfa; in all age categories, similar percentages of patients (78%–80%) achieved the target hemoglobin in approximately the same time (4–5 weeks). Also, the percentage of patients in each age category who received RBC transfusions was reduced from 10%–13% in month 1 to 2%–4% in month 4. Although younger patients reported the greatest improvement in HRQoL scores, approximately one half in each older age category reported clinically significant improvement in fatigue, and improvement in the Energy and Overall Health Assessment and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment scales. There were no treatment-related deaths. Treatment-related thromboembolic events were reported by <1% of patients <65 years old and <1% of patients ≥65 to <70 and ≥70 to <75 years old. Darbepoetin alfa Q3W appeared well tolerated and effective for treating older patients with CIA.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.






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