Gj. Shamdas et al., LEUKOERYTHROBLASTIC ANEMIA IN METASTATIC PROSTATE-CANCER - CLINICAL AND PROGNOSTIC-SIGNIFICANCE IN PATIENTS WITH HORMONE-REFRACTORY DISEASE, Cancer, 71(11), 1993, pp. 3594-3600
Background. The clinical and prognostic significance of leukoerythrobl
astic anemia (LKEA) in patients with metastatic prostate cancer and, i
n general, patients with disseminated solid tumors is poorly understoo
d. Therefore, the authors studied a population of patients with metast
atic prostate cancer refractory to hormonal therapy to assess the inci
dence, clinical features, and prognostic implications of LKEA. Methods
. The medical records of 106 patients with hormone-refractory prostate
cancer metastatic to bone seen at the Tucson Veterans Affairs Medical
Center between 1985 and 1991 were reviewed retrospectively. The clini
cal and laboratory data, number of packed erythrocyte transfusions req
uired, and length of survival from the time of diagnosis of hormone-re
fractory disease until last follow-up visit or death were investigated
in 91 identified patients. Results. Twenty-six of 91 patients (28.6%)
were found to have LKEA. LKEA developed before or at the time of diag
nosis of hormone-refractory disease in 8 patients and after diagnosis
of hormone-refractory disease in 18 patients. The presence of LKEA was
associated with significantly lower hemoglobin levels and platelet (P
lt) counts and significantly higher total bilirubin, lactic dehydrogen
ase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase values (P < 0.05). Leukopenia (< 4
.0 X 10(9)/l leukocytes), thrombocytopenia (< 150 X 10(9)/l Plt), elev
ated LDH levels (> 220 U/l), and laboratory evidence of disseminated i
ntravascular coagulation (DIC) were more common in patients with LKEA
than in those without LKEA (P < 0.01). Microangiopathic hemolysis was
seen in only 2 of 91 patients (2.1%). Patients with LKEA had significa
ntly greater transfusion requirements compared with patients without L
KEA (P < 0.0001), but the median survival length was not significantly
different (9 months versus 11 months, respectively). The presence of
DIC and LDH levels of 500 U/l or greater in patients with LKEA was ass
ociated with a poor prognosis. Conclusions. LKEA is a relatively commo
n finding in patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate canc
er and is associated with greater transfusion requirements. Its presen
ce, however, does not affect survival significantly.