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JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2006 98(10):708-714; doi:10.1093/jnci/djj189
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press.

BRIEF COMMUNICATION

Recombinant Human Erythropoietins and Cancer Patients: Updated Meta-Analysis of 57 Studies Including 9353 Patients

Julia Bohlius, Jayne Wilson, Jerome Seidenfeld, Margaret Piper, Guido Schwarzer, Josie Sandercock, Sven Trelle, Olaf Weingart, Sue Bayliss, Benjamin Djulbegovic, Charles L. Bennett, Simon Langensiepen, Chris Hyde, Andreas Engert

Affiliations of authors: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Cologne, Germany (JB, ST, OW, SL, AE); Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham, U.K. (JW, J. Sandercook, SB, CH); Technology Evaluation Center, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Chicago, IL (J. Seidenfeld, MP); Institute of Medical Biometry and Medical Informatics, University of Freiburg, Germany (GS); H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL (BD); Department of Veterans Affairs Chicago Healthcare System, Lakeside Division and Northwestern University Chicago, IL (CLB)

Correspondence to: Julia Bohlius, MD, MScPH, University Hospital of Cologne Department I of Internal Medicine, 50924 Cologne, Germany (e-mail: julia.bohlius{at}uk-koeln.de).

This is an updated systematic review of 57 trials and 9353 cancer patients from articles, abstracts, and reports published between January 1, 1985, and April 30, 2005, on the effects of epoetin alfa and beta (i.e., epoetin) and darbepoetin alfa (i.e., darbepoetin). We included randomized controlled trials comparing epoetin or darbepoetin plus red blood cell transfusion with red blood cell transfusion alone for prophylaxis or treatment of anemia in cancer patients with or without concurrent antineoplastic therapy. The Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and conference proceedings were searched. Effect estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with fixed-effects models. Treatment with epoetin or darbepoetin statistically significantly reduced the risk for red blood cell transfusions (relative risk [RR] = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.60 to 0.68; 42 trials and 6510 patients) and improved hematologic response (RR = 3.43, 95% CI = 3.07 to 3.84; 22 trials and 4307 patients). Treatment with epoetin or darbepoetin increased the risk of thrombo-embolic events (RR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.35 to 2.06; 35 trials and 6769 patients). Uncertainties remain as to whether and how epoetin or darbepoetin affects overall survival (hazard ratio = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.18; 42 trials and 8167 patients). Caution is advised when using epoetin or darbepoetin in combination with thrombogenic chemotherapeutic agents or for cancer patients who are at high risk for thrombo-embolic events.


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