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Randomized, open-label comparison of epoetin alfa extended dosing (80 000 U Q2W) vs weekly dosing (40 000 U QW) in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.

Author(s): Henry DH, Gordan LN, Charu V, Wilhelm FE, Williams D, Xie J, Woodman RC

Affiliation(s): Joan Karnell Cancer Center, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Publication date & source: 2006-07, Curr Med Res Opin., 22(7):1403-13.

Publication type: Multicenter Study; Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: This randomized, open-label, multicenter study compared the efficacy and safety of epoetin alfa (EPO) 80 000 U every 2 weeks (Q2W) to the FDA-approved regimen of 40 000 U weekly (QW) in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 310 patients with nonmyeloid malignancy and baseline hemoglobin (Hb) <or= 11 g/dL who were scheduled to receive chemotherapy for a minimum of 12 weeks were randomized to EPO Q2W or QW for up to 12 weeks, with dose modification to maintain Hb at approximately 12 g/dL. Efficacy analyses used the per-protocol population (patients who completed the study with a value for Hb change) for the primary endpoint only and the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population (patients who received study drug and had at least one postbaseline Hb value) for the primary and secondary endpoints. RESULTS: Analysis of the primary endpoint revealed that the mean change in Hb from baseline to study end was comparable between the Q2W and QW groups in the per-protocol population (1.6 g/dL vs 1.8 g/dL, respectively; treatment difference, -0.2 g/dL; one-sided 95% confidence interval [-0.56, -]); similar results were observed in the mITT population. Among patients on study at Day 29, 9.6% (13/135) and 11.1% (14/126) of patients in the Q2W and QW groups, respectively, received a transfusion between Day 29 and the end of the study (p = 0.709). Dose withholds (21% vs 42%, p < 0.001) and dose reductions (41% vs 59%, p = 0.003) were less common for Q2W than QW. Safety profiles were similar between groups; clinically relevant thrombotic vascular events occurred in 8% of patients in each group. The open-label dosing and the patient attrition rate did not appear to influence overall study results. CONCLUSIONS: Extended dosing (80 000 U Q2W) and once-weekly dosing (40 000 U QW) of EPO provided comparable safety and efficacy for chemotherapy-induced anemia.

Page last updated: 2006-11-04

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