Document Detail


Tumor progression associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19017828     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, characterize, compare, and critique trials reporting increased tumor progression in patients with cancer who are receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) that led to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) actions for black box warnings and labeling changes. DATA SOURCES: Literature was accessed through MEDLINE (1950-August 2008) and PubMed (1975-August 2008) using the search terms recombinant erythropoietin, darbepoetin, epoetin, anemia, neoplasms, and disease progression. Articles cited in MedWatch alerts, Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting briefs, and bibliographies from identified articles were also reviewed. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: All studies published in English with data suggesting increased tumor progression or death due to disease progression in patients receiving ESAs were included. DATA SYNTHESIS: ESAs are approved for treatment of anemia in several different disease states, including chemotherapy-induced anemia. Ten trials investigating off-label use of ESAs in patients with cancer have reported an increased risk of tumor progression and/or treatment-associated death. Two of these trials reported worse overall survival with ESA treatment compared with placebo (28% vs 23% and 21.9% vs 16.4%), while another trial reported shorter time to death with treatment (68 vs 131 days; p = 0.04). Many of these studies had important limitations, including imbalanced groups at baseline and poor design. Moreover, none of these trials was designed to detect a statistically worse outcome with ESAs; thus, absolute conclusions regarding tumor progression cannot be drawn. As a result, better designed trials with safety as the primary outcome are ongoing. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed and being undertaken to qualify and quantify the possible risk of tumor progression with use of ESAs. Prudent practice dictates that until results of these trials are available, ESAs should be used in accordance with FDA labeling.
Authors:
Ashley M Newland; Curtis D Black
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review     Date:  2008-11-18
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Annals of pharmacotherapy     Volume:  42     ISSN:  1542-6270     ISO Abbreviation:  Ann Pharmacother     Publication Date:  2008 Dec 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2008-12-02     Completed Date:  2009-01-15     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9203131     Medline TA:  Ann Pharmacother     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1865-70     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA 01752, USA. ashley.newland@gmail.com
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anemia / chemically induced,  prevention & control*
Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects,  therapeutic use
Clinical Trials as Topic
Disease Progression
Drug Labeling
Hematinics / adverse effects*
Humans
Neoplasms / drug therapy,  mortality,  physiopathology*
Research Design
Survival Rate
United States / epidemiology
United States Food and Drug Administration
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Antineoplastic Agents; 0/Hematinics

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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