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Efficacy of epoetin-beta 30,000 IU/week in correcting anaemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumours subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of the project was to assess the effectiveness and safety of weekly epoetin-beta (EB) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCTRT).

Methods

In this clinical prospective and multicentre cohort study EB was administered at a dose of 30,000 IU/ week, during CCTRT and in the four weeks thereafter, and suspended if haemoglobin (Hb) increased >2 g/dl or Hb >12–13 g/dl. Effectiveness was defined as Hb increase ≥1 g/dl vs. baseline. Time to response, treatment toxicity and transfusion requirements were also assessed.

Results

EB was effective in 75.8% of the evaluable population within a median of four weeks from EB initiation, without blood transfusions. Over 80% of all patients remained below the threshold (Hb ≤13 g/dl) and no study drug-related adverse reactions were recorded.

Conclusion

Weekly EB proved to be effective and well tolerated by patients with GIC subjected to CCTRT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Hospital Clínico Universitario Santiago de Compostela, Travesía Choupana, s/n, ES-15706, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain

    Antonio Gómez, Ana Carballo & Paula Peleteiro

  2. Servicio de Oncología Médica, Complejo Hospitalario de Orense, Orense, Spain

    Mercedes Salgado

  3. Servicio de Oncología Médica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain

    Manuel Valladares-Ayerbes

  4. Servicio de Oncología Médica, Complejo Hospitalario de Vigo, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain

    Mónica Jorge

  5. Servicio de Oncología Médica, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, La Coruña, Spain

    Sonia Candamio & Pilar Izquierdo

  6. Servicio de Oncología Radioterápica, Centro Oncológico de La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain

    Rafael López

Authors
  1. Antonio Gómez
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  2. Mercedes Salgado
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  3. Manuel Valladares-Ayerbes
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  4. Mónica Jorge
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  5. Ana Carballo
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Correspondence to Antonio Gómez.

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Gómez, A., Salgado, M., Valladares-Ayerbes, M. et al. Efficacy of epoetin-beta 30,000 IU/week in correcting anaemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumours subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Clin Transl Oncol 12, 843–848 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-010-0607-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-010-0607-4

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