1.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of erythropoietin in multiple myeloma
Soares HP, Kumar A, Silvestris F, Djulbegovic B
Blood. 2004;104((11):):70a.. Abstract No. 232.
2.
The effectiveness and tolerability of epoetin alfa in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to chemotherapy
Dammacco F, Silvestris F, Castoldi GL, Grassi B, Bernasconi C, Nadali G, Perona G, De Laurenzi A, Torelli U, Ascari E, et al
International Journal of Clinical & Laboratory Research. 1998;28((2):):127-34.
Abstract
Anemia is a frequent complication of multiple myeloma, becoming chronic in patients who are resistant to chemotherapy. This randomized, parallel, controlled multicenter study (71 patients receiving concomitant chemotherapy) evaluated the efficacy and safety of epoetin alfa in improving anemia and eliminating the need for transfusions in multiple myeloma patients refractory to conventional first- or second-line chemotherapy. Forty patients were treated with subcutaneous epoetin alfa (150 IU/kg per dose, increasing to 300 IU/kg per dose, every 3 weeks) for 6 months, and 31 entered a control group. The epoetin alfa group had a significantly (P < or = 0.001) greater percentage of patients (75% vs. 21%) with increases in hemoglobin levels and/or reduced transfusion requirements. In 44 non pre-transfused patients (20 controls, 24 in the epoetin alfa group), the mean increase in hemoglobin was significantly (P < or = 0.0001) greater in the epoetin alfa group (+2.1 vs. -0.2 g/dl). Increases in hematocrit and red blood cells were also significantly (P < or = 0.0001) greater in epoetin alfa-treated patients, with corresponding reductions in transfusion requirement. In the 27 pre-transfused patients (11 controls, 16 in the epoetin alfa group), there was a trend towards reduced transfusional need in epoetin alfa-treated patients. Thus, in patients with multiple myeloma refractory to chemotherapy epoetin alfa is a well-tolerated treatment which improves anemia in non pre-transfused patients and appears to reduce transfusion need in those previously transfused.
3.
Long-term therapy with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) in progressing multiple myeloma
Silvestris F, Romito A, Fanelli P, Vacca A, Dammacco F
Annals of Hematology. 1995;70((6):):313-8.
Abstract
Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO) is an effective growth factor for erythroid progenitor cells in anemia provoked by several conditions, including bone marrow tumors such as multiple myeloma (MM). We studied a group of 54 patients with MM undergoing second-induction chemotherapy. Thirty of them were randomly assigned to receive rHu-EPO at an initial dosage of 150 units/kg body weight three times a week, increased to 300 units/kg from the sixth week to the end of the 24-week study. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels increased in 77.7% of these patients by the eighth week. In addition, five transfusion-dependent patients in treatment with the VMCP protocol completed the trial without requiring blood supplement after the third month, whereas seven control patients required frequent supplements. Monthly assessment of hematologic parameters demonstrated the ability of rHu-EPO to increase reticulocyte counts, whereas five patients became resistant to the second-induction chemotherapy in apparent concurrence with their rHu-EPO therapy. The response to rHu-EPO in four of the five MM patients receiving cytotoxic protocols combined with alpha-interferon (alpha-IFN) included an increase of serum IgM after the third month. This effect was not demonstrable in any other group, including three rHu-EPO-untreated patients undergoing alpha-IFN + VMCP combined therapy, as well as rHu-EPO-treated patients not receiving alpha-IFN. Our data suggest that alpha-IFN plus rHu-EPO treatment in MM patients is effective in restoring normal B cell function. These results may reflect in vivo the modulation of normal human B cells and lymphoblasts by rHu-EPO observed in vitro.