Hematologic Response of Epoetin Alfa (PROCRIT) Versus Darbepoetin Alfa (ARANESP) in Chemotherapy Induced Anemia

Centocor Ortho Biotech

Status and phase

Completed

Phase 4

Conditions

Anemia

Chemotherapy

Treatments

Drug: Epoetin alfa and Darbepoetin alfa

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Industry

Identifiers

NCT00315484

CR004609

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to compare hemoglobin (Hgb) response rates between epoetin alfa (PROCRIT; 40,000 Units (U) SC weekly) and darbepoetin alfa (ARANESP; 200 mcg every other week) in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Full description

Chemotherapy related anemia occurs in a majority of cancer patients and can cause impaired treatment outcomes, increased treatment-related complications and altered quality of life. Epoetin alfa administered on a weekly dosing schedule of 40,000 Units subcutaneously ([SC], under the skin) with dose adjustments based on hematologic response produces significant improvement in hemoglobin levels, decreased transfusion frequency and improved quality of life. It is unknown if the recently developed agent, darbepoetin alfa, administered on an every other week fixed dose will produce similar improvements in hematologic and quality of life outcomes. Thus, further randomization studies are warranted utilizing once weekly dosing (QW) of Epoetin alfa compared to once every other week (Q2W) darbepoetin alfa. Patients will receive study medications for up to 16 weeks.Safety & efficacy evaluations will be performed at specified intervals throughout the study.The study hypothesis is that the Week 5 hemoglobin response rate in the Epoetin alfa group is better than that in the Darbepoetin alfa group. The starting dose for study drug is either Epoetin alfa (PROCRIT) 40,000 Units SC QW or Darbepoetin alfa (ARANESP) 200 mcg SC Q2W. Doses may be adjusted depending on the patient's hemoglobin levels up a maximum of 60,000 IU SC QW Epoetin alfa or 300 mcg SC Q2W Darbepoetin alfa.

Enrollment

358 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18+ years old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Histologically confirmed diagnosis of a solid tumor malignancy
Baseline hemoglobin value of <11 g/dL
Scheduled to receive cyclic chemotherapy for a minimum of 12 weeks
< 2 prior chemotherapy regimens in a metastatic setting
Adequate hematologic & renal function and platelet count >100,000/mm3
Estimated life expectancy of > 6 months
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0 - 2

Exclusion criteria

History of stem cell or bone marrow transplant
Anemia due to factors other than cancer/chemotherapy
Prior treatment with epoetin alfa or darbepoetin alfa or any investigational forms of erythropoietin within the previous 3 months
Significant, uncontrolled disease/dysfunction of the pulmonary, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary systems not attributable to underlying malignancy or chemotherapy
Uncontrolled hypertension or recent history (within 6 months) of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary embolism, thrombosis
new onset of seizures
history of second active malignancy
Major infection requiring hospitalization and antibiotics within 14 days of randomization
Transfusion of white blood cells or packed red blood cells within 28 days of randomization.