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Published on: March 6, 2018
Epoetin beta (NeoRecormon) corrects anaemia in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and bone metastases
J Bogdanos1, D Karamanolakis, K Milathianakis
1Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Background:
Severe anaemia is common in patients with metastatic, hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
Patients And Methods:
We evaluated the efficacy of epoetin beta in correcting anaemia and maintaining haemoglobin (Hb) levels in this group of patients. Patients with HRPC, bone metastases and anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dl) were included. Epoetin beta, 30,000 IU per week in three divided doses, was administered subcutaneously, with iron supplementation when needed. If Hb increased by < 1 g/dl during the first 4 weeks of therapy the epoetin dose was increased (increments of 5,000 IU per dose) at fortnightly intervals to a maximum of 60,000 IU per week. Patients with haematopoietic response (Hb increase > or = 2 g/dl from baseline or Hb level > or = 12 g/dl without blood transfusions) went on to receive epoetin beta 10,000 IU once weekly for up to 24 weeks.
Results:
All 29 evaluable patients demonstrated a haematopoietic response to epoetin beta treatment. None of the patients required blood transfusions. All patients showed improvements in quality of life (assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire). Hb levels were maintained for the remainder of the trial. Epoetin beta was very well tolerated.
Conclusion:
Epoetin beta therapy resulted in a rapid and sustained improvement in Hb levels in patients with HRPC metastatic to bone.
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