Seminars in hematology
-
Seminars in hematology · Jul 2007
ReviewRisks and benefits of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in cancer management.
Anemia is frequently diagnosed in patients with cancer and its treatment is an important clinical problem. The deficiency in red blood cells (RBCs) can be a debilitating problem, and anemia correlates with poor performance status, deteriorates quality of life, and may negatively influence the prognosis of cancer patients. The development of recombinant human erythropoietins (rhEPO) provides a therapeutic option in patients with mild to moderate anemia. ⋯ The dosing and management of these patients should strictly follow evidence-based guidelines of the clinical societies, as well as the manufacturer's recommendations. Furthermore, treatment of patients beyond the correction of anemia must be regarded as potentially harmful and should only be conducted in an experimental clinical setting. In this review, recently published recommendations and standards for the use of rhEPO will be discussed.