Epoetin alfa 60,000 U QW followed by 80,000 U Q3W maintenance in patients with anemia and cancer receiving chemotherapy

8215 Background: Epoetin alfa (EPO) at a starting dose of 40,000 U SC once weekly (QW) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in cancer patients (pts). It is hypothesized that higher starting doses followed by less frequent maintenance dosing may shorten time to Hb response and increase response rates. Methods: In this ongoing open-label, multicenter, pilot study in 130 anemic pts with cancer receiving CT, EPO 60,000 U SC was administered QW for up to 12 weeks (wks) until a target Hb ≥12 g/dL was reached (initiation phase [IP]). Pts then received EPO 80,000 U SC every 3 weeks (Q3W; maintenance phase [MP]) to maintain Hb 11.5 g/dL to 12.5 g/dL. Primary end point was proportion of pts with Hb ≥12 g/dL or Hb increase ≥2 g/dL from baseline in the IP. Eligible pts were ≥18 y with nonmyeloid malignancy, baseline Hb ≤11 g/dL, and scheduled to receive CT Q3W for ≥15 wks. Pts were followed for up to 24 wks and received 1 dose of EPO after last CT cycle. Pts with Hb ≥12 g/dL ...