UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Objective: We assessed the efficacy of Epoetin beta in anemic lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: Anemic (Hb <12 g/dl) lung cancer patients received Epoetin beta (NeoRecormon®) 30 000 IU once weekly. The target Hb level was 12 g/dl. Results: Forty patients entered the study (22 female, 18 male, median age 60 years, 27.5% SCLC, 72.5% NSCLC). Thirteen patients (32.5%) had received chemotherapy before starting the study. During the study, patients received 1–6 (median 4) chemotherapy cycles (60% platinum-based). Epoetin beta treatment was initiated after cycles 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 in 37.5%, 35%, 17.5%, 7.5% and 2.5% of the patients, respectively. The duration of epoetin beta treatment ranged from 1 to >9 (median 4) weeks. The mean baseline Hb level was 10.4 g/dl. Seventeen patients (42.5%) showed a Hb increase of at least 1 g/dl; in 16 of these patients, the increase was observed within 4 weeks. Mean Hb levels at weeks 2, 4 and 6 were 10.6, 11.7 and 12.0 g/dl, respectively, indicating a mean increase at 4 weeks of 1.3 g/dl. Nineteen (47.5%) patients had a haematopoietic response (Hb increase at least 1 g/dl and/or a Hb level 12 g/dl or more), 16 of whom responded within 4 weeks. Only 2 patients (5%) required red blood cell transfusions. Treatment with epoetin beta was well tolerated. In conclusion, Epoetin beta 30 000 IU once weekly rapidly increased Hb levels in anemic lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, with 95% of patients remaining transfusion free. The study was supported by Roche.