6533b85efe1ef96bd12c086e

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Systemic chemotherapy in elderly patients with locally advanced and/or inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck: impact of anemia and role of recombinant human erythropoietin

Citarrella PPietro Di MarcoVittorio Gebbia

subject

medicine.medical_specialtyAnemiamedicine.medical_treatmentAntineoplastic AgentsGastroenterologychemistry.chemical_compoundQuality of lifehemic and lymphatic diseasesInternal medicinemedicineHumansErythropoietinAgedChemotherapybusiness.industryIncidenceIncidence (epidemiology)AnemiaHematologymedicine.diseaseRecombinant ProteinsCarboplatinSurgeryOncologychemistryEpidermoid carcinomaHead and Neck NeoplasmsErythropoietinCarcinoma Squamous CellbusinessComplicationmedicine.drug

description

Abstract A review of the incidence and management of anemia in elderly patients with head and neck carcinoma treated with systemic chemotherapy. The role of recombinant human erythropoietin in preventing or correcting chemotherapy-related anemia has been focused. Data concerning the prospective use of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEpo) in a series of unfit elderly patients (EPs) treated with carboplatin plus 5-fluorouracil. Patients were randomly assigned to receive subcutaneous rhEpo 10,000 U three times per week (TIW) (23 elderly patients) or no treatment (22 control patients). Recombinant hEpo was able to prevent anemia and to reduce transfusional requirements in treated patients as compared to untreated controls with a statistically significant difference. rhEpo also caused a positive effect on quality of life (QoL) parameters.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2003-10-01Critical Reviews in Oncology/Hematology
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.critrevonc.2003.07.002