A multi-center open-labeled study of recombinant erythropoietin-β in the treatment of anemic patients with multiple myeloma, low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Chinese population

• Published in: International journal of hematology Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 139 - 144
• Main Authors: Yang, Shen, Jun, Ma, Hong-Li, Zhu, Jian-Min, Wang, Chun, Wang, Lu-Gui, Qiu, Yong-Qiang, Zhao, Jun, Zhu, Jian, Hou, Zhi-Xiang, Shen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01.09.2008; Springer
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anemia - drug therapy; Anemia - etiology; Anemias. Hemoglobinopathies; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of red blood cells; Erythropoietin - administration & dosage; Erythropoietin - adverse effects; Erythropoietin - blood; Female; Ferritins - blood; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology; Humans; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Iron - blood; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - complications; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin - complications; Lymphoproliferative Disorders - complications; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma - complications; Oncology; Original Article; Recombinant Proteins; Treatment Outcome; Asia; China; Erythropoietin; Anemia; Lymphoma; Leukemia; Multiple myeloma; Human; Immunopathology; Hematology; Malignant hemopathy; Lymphoid neoplasm; Non Hodgkin lymphoma; Myeloma; Chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Treatment; Immunoglobulinopathy; Polypeptide; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Chinese; Recombinant protein; Cancer; Low grade
• ISSN: 0925-5710; 1865-3774
• DOI: 10.1007/s12185-008-0130-3

The purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of recombinant erythropoietin-β in the treatment of anemic patients with multiple myeloma (MM), low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). From December 2005 to November 2006, the patients with MM, low-grade NHL, and CLL were enrolled in this study, male or female, aged ≥18 years, transfusion-dependant, and receiving anti-neoplasia chemotherapy. Recombinant human erythropoietin-β was used in this study with the dose initiated at 150 IU/kg, thrice a week, subcutaneously. The total treatment duration was 12 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study is response rate (RR), which is defined as hemoglobin increasing ≥2 g/dL comparing to baseline level, or returning to normal range, without any transfusion within 6 weeks of evaluation. Fifty out of 82 (64.6%) patients enrolled in this study responded to the treatment and 29 patients had no response. Hypertension (12.2%) is the most common adverse effect; however, all the adverse events were mild, categorized in NCI grade I or II. We conclude that recombinant erythropoietin-β was effective in the treatment of anemia of the patients with MM, NHL, and CLL, as well as it is well-tolerated.