Efficacy of Darbepoetin alfa in Anemia Developed during Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer. |
Hee Jung Ban, Su Young Chi, Cheol Kyu Park, Eun Young Kim, Yoon Hee Kim, Kyu Sik Kim, Jin Young Ju, Yong Soo Kwon, In Jae Oh, Yu Il Kim, Sung Chul Lim, Young Chul Kim |
Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea. cyberkks@chonnam.ac.kr |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUND Anemia is quite common in lung cancer patients and known to decrease the quality of life. Darbepoetin alfa is an erythropoiesis-stimulating protein approved for administration to cancer patients. This study examined the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alfa in lung cancer patients with a hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dl during chemotherapy. METHODS: Lung cancer patients (n=178) received darbepoetin alfa at doses of 1.91 microgram/kg per week until the hemoglobin concentration increased to >10 g/dl. The efficacy and safety were measured by comparing the hemoglobin concentration and assessing the adverse events. RESULTS: After chemotherapy, the hemoglobin concentration decreased to 9.03+/-0.64 g/dl. With the darbepoetin alfa treatment, the hemoglobin concentration increased to 10.09+/-1.17 g/dl after 4 weeks reaching a peak hemoglobin concentration of 10.45+/-1.18 g/dl. The changes in hemoglobin after 4 and 8 weeks with treatment were 1.08+/-1.24 g/dl and 1.38+/-1.59 g/dl (p<0.01). At least a 1 g/dl or more increase in hemoglobin was observed in 62.4% of patients. There were no serious adverse effects except for some mild reactions. CONCLUSION: Darbepoetin alfa administered to lung cancer patients appears to be an effective, well-tolerated treatment for chemotherapy induced anemia. |
Key Words:
Darbepoetin alfa, Anemia, Lung cancer |
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