RBC Transfusions Are Best for Anemic Patients with Breast Cancer

Many breast cancer patients are anemic due to either their treatment or disease. Researchers examined whether erythropoietin-stimulating agents such as epoetin alfa (EPO) reduce the need for red blood cell (RBC) transfusions and increase patient survival. Based on a randomized, multi-center trial, >2,000 metastatic breast cancer patients (hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL) were randomized to receive either weekly EPO or standard care. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. No differences were observed between the groups for progression-free survival, overall survival, median time to tumor progression or the overall response rate over one year. The trial did not meet the non-inferiority objectives for EPO. RBC transfusions, therefore, should continue to be used as standard care to treat metastatic breast cancer patients with anemia.

Reference

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