Resumen de Efficacy of epoetin-beta 30,000 IU/week in correcting anaemia in patients with gastrointestinal tumours subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy.

Antonio Gómez Caamaño, Mercedes Salgado Fernández, Manuel Valladares Ayerbes, Mónica Jorge Fernández, Ana Carballo Castro, Sonia Candamio Folgar, Pilar Izquierdo, Paula Peleteiro Higuero, Rafael López López

• Objective The aim of the project was to assess the effectiveness and safety of weekly epoetin-beta (EB) in patients with gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) subjected to concomitant chemoradiotherapy (CCTRT).

  Methods In this clinical prospective and multicentre cohort study EB was administered at a dose of 30,000 IU/ week, during CCTRT and in the four weeks thereafter, and suspended if haemoglobin (Hb) increased >2 g/dl or Hb >12�13 g/dl. Effectiveness was defined as Hb increase ?1 g/dl vs. baseline. Time to response, treatment toxicity and transfusion requirements were also assessed.

  Results EB was effective in 75.8% of the evaluable population within a median of four weeks from EB initiation, without blood transfusions. Over 80% of all patients remained below the threshold (Hb ?13 g/dl) and no study drug-related adverse reactions were recorded.

  Conclusion Weekly EB proved to be effective and well tolerated by patients with GIC subjected to CCTRT