gms | German Medical Science

27th German Cancer Congress Berlin 2006

German Cancer Society (Frankfurt/M.)

22. - 26.03.2006, Berlin

Safety of anemia-therapy with erythropoietin-alfa during neoadjuvant platin-based chemotherapy for locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinoma.

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author presenting/speaker Kathrin Abbrederis - 3. Medizinische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München, Deutschland
  • Florian Bassermann - 3. Medizinische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Christoph Schuhmacher - Chirurgische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Verena Voelter - Chirurgische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Raymonde Busch - Institut für medizinische Statistik und Epidemiologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Nadine Röthling - Münchner Studienzentrale, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Joerg R. Siewert - Chirurgische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Christian Peschel - 3. Medizinische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München
  • Florian Lordick - 3. Medizinische Abteilung, Klinikum rechts der Isar der technischen Universität, München

27. Deutscher Krebskongress. Berlin, 22.-26.03.2006. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2006. DocPO194

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dkk2006/06dkk304.shtml

Published: March 20, 2006

© 2006 Abbrederis et al.
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Outline

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Background: Reports in the literature indicate that allogeneic blood transfusions are associated with higher perioperative morbidity and a higher recurrence rate in patients with cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. We therefore initiated a study to investigate the role of erythropoietin (EPO) in patients becoming anemic during neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with locally advanced (uT3 Nx M0) esophagogastric adenocarcinoma who dropped with their hemoglobin (Hb) level below 12 g/dL during neoadjuvant platin-based chemotherapy received EPO 10.000 IE subcutaneously 3 times per week. Primary objectives were the response rate and safety of therapy with erythropoietin, the need for allogenic red blood cell transfusion and the rate of postoperative complications.

Results: Between 04/03 - 12/04 24 patients (19 males, median age, 62 yrs) were included. 22 patients received EPO and 16 responded (73%). The median increase of the Hb level was 0.9 g/dl. The median Hb level before chemotherapy was 12.2 g/dL (range, 10.3 - 14.9 g/dL) and the median decline of the Hb level was 1.1 g/dL (range, 0 - 4.6 g/dL) before treatment with EPO. A further decline occurred in only 8 patients. Only two patients (8%) received allogenic red blood cell transfusions. Compared to a control group that did not receive EPO the transfusion rate was droped for about 20% and there was also a reduction in the postoperative complications (16% versus 38%).

No EPO-associated adverse events were observed, particularly none of the EPO-treated patients had any thrombotic or embolic cardiovascular event.

Conclusions: Treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia with EPO in neoadjuvant treated locally advanced esophagogastric adenocarcinomas revealed to be safe and effective.