Prediction of response to recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) in anemia of malignancy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Since only a portion of anemic patients outside the uremia setting benefit from erythropoietin treatment, a reliable means of predicting potential responders and nonresponders would be very useful.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 58 patients with refractory anemia associated with various malignant disorders who had been treated with subcutaneous rHuEpo. The starting rHuEpo dose was 375 U/kg/week for 4 weeks, and was increased to 750 U/kg/week for another 4 weeks if no response was observed. Response was defined as a Hb increase > or = 2 g/dL with no need for blood transfusion. We examined the value of various laboratory parameters (baseline levels, 2-week and 4-week changes) as predictors of response. Endogenous erythropoietin production was evaluated by its serum level and erythroid activity was assessed through reticulocyte count and circulating transferrin receptor.

RESULTS:

Forty-eight individuals were evaluable, 58% of whom responded to rHuEpo within 8 weeks. Multiple regression analysis showed that 53% of the variation in the 8-week Hb concentration was explained by variations in baseline serum erythropoietin and the 2-week change in serum transferrin receptor (p < 0.001). Based on these two parameters, response prediction in individual patients would have resulted in a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 79% and an overall accuracy of 88%. In addition, 58% of the variation in the 8-week Hb was explained by variations in the 4-week changes in Hb and reticulocyte count (p < 0.001). Utilizing these latter parameters and baseline serum erythropoietin, response prediction in individual patients would have resulted in a sensitivity of 92%, a specificity of 82% and an overall accuracy of 88%.

CONCLUSIONS:

This retrospective analysis suggests that response to rHuEpo can be reasonably predicted by pretreatment serum erythropoietin together with early changes in simple laboratory parameters.

• Authors: M Cazzola, L Ponchio, C Pedrotti, G Farina, P Cerani, C Lucotti, A Novella, A Rovati, G Bergamaschi, Y Beguin
• Journal: Haematologica (Haematologica) 1996 Sep-Oct Vol. 81 Issue 5 Pg. 434-41 ISSN: 0390-6078 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 8952157 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Recombinant Proteins
• Erythropoietin

Topics

• Anemia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Erythropoietin (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (complications)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Recombinant Proteins (therapeutic use)