Epoetin Alfa in Treating Anemia in Patients Who Are Receiving Chemotherapy
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00003600 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : February 20, 2004
Last Update Posted : July 13, 2016
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RATIONALE: Epoetin alfa may stimulate red blood cell production and treat anemia in patients with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether epoetin alfa is more effective than a placebo in treating anemia in patients receiving chemotherapy.
PURPOSE: Randomized double blinded phase III trial to compare the effectiveness of epoetin alfa with a placebo in treating anemia in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Anemia Breast Cancer Chronic Myeloproliferative Disorders Drug/Agent Toxicity by Tissue/Organ Leukemia Lung Cancer Lymphoma Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Precancerous Condition Small Intestine Cancer Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific | Biological: epoetin alfa Other: placebo | Phase 3 |
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine whether epoetin alfa treatment improves the quality of life in anemic patients who are undergoing chemotherapy for advanced malignancy. II. Determine whether epoetin alfa increases hemoglobin levels and decreases transfusion requirements in these patients. III. Validate or refute the use of an algorithm using pre- and posttreatment epoetin alfa, ferritin, and hemoglobin levels to predict 16 weeks response or no response to therapeutic doses of epoetin alfa as set forth by these patients. IV. Explore whether anemic patients receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens experience less nephrotoxicity if they receive concurrent epoetin alfa compared to those who receive placebo.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, double blind study. Patients are stratified by primary malignant disease (lung vs breast vs other), life expectancy (4-6 months vs greater than 6 months), planned concurrent radiotherapy (yes vs no), and degree of anemia (mild or at least 9 g/dL vs severe or less than 9 g/dL). Patients receiving chemotherapy are randomized to receive epoetin alfa subcutaneously once a week for a maximum of 16 weeks (arm I) or placebo subcutaneously once a week for a maximum of 16 weeks (arm II). Quality of life is assessed at randomization and monthly throughout study. Patients are followed every 6 months for 1 year.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 344 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Supportive Care |
Official Title: | A Phase III Randomized Double-Blind Study of Erythropoietin Versus Placebo in Anemic Patients With Cancer Undergoing Chemotherapy |
Study Start Date : | December 1998 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | December 2001 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | January 2010 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: epoetin alfa
Patients receiving chemotherapy are randomized to receive epoetin alfa subcutaneously once a week for a maximum of 16 weeks Quality of life is assessed at randomization and monthly throughout study. Patients are followed every 6 months for 1 year.
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Biological: epoetin alfa |
Placebo Comparator: placebo
Patients receiving chemotherapy are randomized to receive placebo subcutaneously once a week for a maximum of 16 weeks. Quality of life is assessed at randomization and monthly throughout study. Patients are followed every 6 months for 1 year.
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Other: placebo |
- Quality of life [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
- Predict response [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]
- Response rate [ Time Frame: Up to 12 months ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Anemic: Hemoglobin in males less than 11.5 g/dL; hemoglobin in females less than 10.0 g/dL No anemia secondary to B12, folic acid, or iron deficiency No anemia secondary to gastrointestinal bleed or hemolysis No anemia secondary to a primary or chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndrome No anemia secondary to acute lymphocytic leukemia Histologically confirmed advanced malignancy Lung Breast Other Currently receiving myelosuppressive, cytotoxic chemotherapy for advanced cancer No patients receiving adjuvant therapy for cancer that has been surgically removed
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: ECOG 0-1 Life expectancy: At least 4 months Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Not specified Cardiovascular: No uncontrolled hypertension (systolic at least 180, diastolic at least 100) Other: Normal or elevated ferritin No known hypersensitivity to epoetin alfa Must be able to reliably take oral medication Must be alert and mentally competent Not pregnant or nursing
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: At least 1 year since prior epoetin alfa At least 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions No concurrent peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Concurrent radiotherapy allowed Surgery: See Disease Characteristics

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00003600

Study Chair: | Thomas E. Witzig, MD | Mayo Clinic |
Responsible Party: | Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00003600 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
NCCTG-979253 CDR0000066673 ( Registry Identifier: PDQ (Physician Data Query) ) NCI-P98-0133 |
First Posted: | February 20, 2004 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 13, 2016 |
Last Verified: | July 2016 |
Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Precancerous Conditions Intestinal Neoplasms Anemia Myeloproliferative Disorders Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Hemostatic Disorders Vascular Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Paraproteinemias Blood Protein Disorders Hematologic Diseases |
Hemorrhagic Disorders Lymphoproliferative Disorders Immunoproliferative Disorders Immune System Diseases Bone Marrow Diseases Gastrointestinal Neoplasms Digestive System Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Digestive System Diseases Gastrointestinal Diseases Intestinal Diseases Epoetin Alfa Hematinics |