Once-weekly treatment of anemia in patients with cancer: a comparative review of epoetins.

Anemia is common in cancer patients, but its impact is often poorly appreciated. As well as the negative effect of anemia on the quality of life, there is strong evidence that it is associated with poor treatment outcome and reduced survival. The introduction of recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) has provided an effective treatment of anemia, without the risk associated with blood transfusion. A recent randomized study of patients with hematological malignancies showed that once-weekly epoetin beta has comparable efficacy at the same overall weekly dose as three-times-weekly treatment. This once-weekly regimen of epoetin beta (NeoRecormon) has been approved by European Regulatory Authorities for patients with lymphoproliferative malignancies and relative erythropoietin deficiency, who are receiving anti-tumor therapy. Darbepoetin alpha (Aranesp) has also recently been approved for once-weekly treatment of anemia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies receiving chemotherapy. The improved convenience and reduced administration costs associated with a once-weekly treatment may result in more patients receiving the benefits of epoetin therapy.