Abstract

INTRODUCTION This study evaluated noninferiority of darbepoetin alfa versus placebo for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in anemic patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated to a 12.0-g/dL hemoglobin (Hb) ceiling. METHODS Adults with stage IV NSCLC expected to receive ≥2 cycles of myelosuppressive chemotherapy and Hb≤11.0 g/dL were randomized 2:1 to blinded 500 mug darbepoetin alfa or placebo Q3W. The primary endpoint was OS; a stratified Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate noninferiority (upper confidence limit for hazard ratio [HR] <1.15). Secondary endpoints were PFS and incidence of transfusions or Hb≤8.0 g/dL from week 5 to end of the efficacy treatment period (EOETP). RESULTS The primary analysis set included 2516 patients: 1680 randomized to darbepoetin alfa; 836 to placebo. The study was stopped early per independent Data Monitoring Committee recommendation after the primary endpoint was met with no new safety concerns. Darbepoetin alfa was noninferior to placebo for OS (stratified HR=0.92; 95%CI, 0.831.01) and PFS (stratified HR=0.95; 95%CI, 0.871.04). Darbepoetin alfa was superior to placebo for transfusion or Hb ≤8.0 g/dL from week 5 to EOETP (stratified OR=0.70; 95%CI, 0.570.86; P<.001). Objective tumor response was similar between the arms (darbepoetin alfa, 36.4%; placebo, 32.6%). Incidence of serious adverse events (AEs) was 31.1% in both arms. No unexpected AEs were observed. CONCLUSIONS Darbepoetin alfa dosed to a 12.0-g/dL Hb ceiling was noninferior to placebo for OS and PFS and significantly reduced odds of transfusion or Hb≤8.0 g/dL in anemic patients with NSCLC receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy.

Abstract

PURPOSE To determine whether maintaining HGB levels > or = 12. 0 g/dL with recombinant human erythropoietin (R-HUEPO) compared to standardtreatment (transfusion for HGB < or = 10. 0 g/dL) improves progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and local control (LC) in women receiving concurrent weekly cisplatin and radiation (CT/RT) for carcinoma of the cervix. In addition, to determine whether platinum-DNA adducts were associated with clinical characteristics or outcome. METHODS Patients with stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer and HGB < 14. 0 g/dL were randomly assigned to CT/RT+/-R-HUEPO (40,000 units s. c. weekly). R-HUEPO was stopped if HGB > 14. 0 g/dL. Endpoints were PFS, OS and LC. Platinum-DNA adducts were quantified using immunocytochemistry assay in buccal cells. RESULTS Between 08/01 and 09/03, 109 of 114 patients accrued were eligible. Fifty-two received CT/RT and 57 CT/RT+R-HUEPO. The study closed prematurely, with less than 25% of the planned accrual, due to potential concerns for thromboembolic event (TE) with R-HUEPO. Median follow-up was 37 months (range 9. 8-50. 4 months). PFS and OS at 3 years should be 65% and 75% for CT/RT and 58% and 61% for CT/RT+R-HUEPO, respectively. TE occurred in 4/52 receiving CT/RT and 11/57 with CT/RT+R-HUEPO, not all considered treatment related. No deaths occurred from TE. High-platinum adducts were associated with inferior PFS and LC. CONCLUSION TE is common in cervical cancer patients receiving CT/RT. Difference in TE rate between the two treatments was not statistically significant. The impact of maintaining HGB level > 12. 0 g/dL on PFS, OS and LC remains undetermined.