Skip Navigation



Annals of Oncology Advance Access published online on April 7, 2005
Annals of Oncology, doi:10.1093/annonc/mdi161
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
16/5/817    most recent
mdi161v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Leonard, R. C.
Right arrow Articles by Von Koch, F.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Leonard, R. C.
Right arrow Articles by Von Koch, F.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 2005 European Society for Medical Oncology
Received September 6, 2004
Revised November 29, 2004
Accepted December 27, 2004

Review

Management of anaemia in patients with breast cancer: role of epoetin

R. C. Leonard 1*, M. Untch 2, and F. Von Koch 2

1 South West Wales Cancer Institute, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK
2 Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, München, Germany

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
R. C. Leonard, E-mail: r.c.f.leonard{at}swansea.ac.uk


  Abstract

Many patients with breast cancer suffer from anaemia, as a consequence of the disease itself or its treatment. Anaemia has a negative impact on treatment outcome and overall survival, and affects the quality of life (QoL) of patients with cancer. Previously, cancer-related anaemia was treated with blood transfusion, but this is inconvenient, offers only temporary improvement in haemoglobin (Hb) level and is associated with several risks. Consequently, blood transfusion is usually reserved for patients with severe anaemia (Hb levels <8 g/dl). Recombinant human erythropoietin (epoetin) is an effective and convenient treatment for cancer-related anaemia without the risks associated with red blood cell transfusion. Epoetin therapy effectively increases Hb levels, thereby reducing the need for emergency blood transfusion and improving the QoL of patients with anaemia and breast cancer. Epoetin beta is also effective for the prevention of anaemia and reduction of transfusion requirements in patients with a high risk of developing anaemia during chemotherapy. With the increased use of dose-intensified chemotherapy in an attempt to improve response rates, administration of epoetin to prevent anaemia could potentially benefit many patients with breast cancer.

Keywords: anaemia; anaemia prevention; breast cancer; dose-dense chemotherapy; erythropoietin.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.