ERYTHROPOIETIC RESPONSE INDUCED BY RECOMBINANT-HUMAN-ERYTHROPOIETIN IN ANEMIC CANCER-PATIENTS CANDIDATE TO MAJOR ABDOMINAL-SURGERY

Background/Aims: This trial was designed to quantify the production. o f new red blood cells (RBCs) after treatment with recombinant human er ythropoietin (r-HuEPO). Materials and Method: Twenty anemic patients w ith gastric or colorectal cancer were prospectively studied. The contr ol group (n = 10) underwent surgery without delay. The experimental gr oup (n = 10) received treatment with 500U/kg of r-HuEPO divided in thr ee doses which were administrated as follows: 300U/kg 12 days before s urgery and 100U/kg 4 and 8 days later. Results: RBC gain was 210+/-75 mL in the experimental group which received treatment. The erythropoie tic response was similar after 300 U/kg (59+/-36mL) or 100 U/kg 75+/-2 4 mL). No correlation. was found between. RBC gain and age (r = 0.18) or baseline levels of erythropoietin (r = 0.08), hemoglobin (r = 0.06) , erythrocytes (r = 0.01), reticulocytes (r = 0.01), iron (r = 0.28) a nd ferritin (r = 0.08). One treated patient in. the experimental group was transfused with allogeneic blood (2 units) versus 5 control patie nts (overall 13 units) (p = 0.06). Conclusion: Preoperative treatment with r-HuEPO improved erythropoiesis and reduced allogeneic transfusio ns in anemic cancer patients, No significant difference in RBC gains w as noted between r-HuEPO administration at 300 U/kg and r-HuEPO admini stration at 100 U/kg. This result suggests a possible dose reduction f or future trials.