Darbepoetin alfa administered every three weeks is effective for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia

Patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy often have chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA) and reduced quality of life. Darbepoetin alfa can effectively treat CIA when administered at an extended dosing interval of once every 3 weeks (Q3W). Darbepoetin alfa administered Q3W may allow synchronization of darbepoetin alfa therapy with chemotherapy administered Q3W. This multicenter, open-label, 16-week study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of darbepoetin alfa administered as a fixed dose (300 mu g) Q3W in patients with CIA. Eligible patients ( 18 years) were anemic (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl), had a nonmyeloid malignancy, and were receiving multicycle chemotherapy. This analysis includes 1,493 patients who received at least one dose of darbepoetin alfa. The effect of baseline hemoglobin (< 10 or >= 10 g/dl) on clinical outcomes was evaluated. Patients in the >= 10-g/dl stratum achieved the hemoglobin target range (11-13 g/dl) in less time than patients in the < 10-g/dl stratum (3 weeks vs. 9 weeks). More patients in the >= 10-g/dl stratum achieved the hemoglobin target range (87% vs. 66%); however, similar proportions of patients in both strata maintained hemoglobin within the target range (73% vs. 71%). Fewer patients in the >= 10-g/dl stratum received RBC transfusions from week 5 to the end of the study (12% vs. 28%). Over 50% of patients in both strata reported clinically significant improvements (23-point increase) in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue score. Twenty-eight percent of patients reported serious adverse events; 3% of all patients had a venous or arterial thrombotic event. This study demonstrates that darbepoetin alfa Q3W is well tolerated and effective for treating CIA.