[Improvement of anemia and quality of life of patients with prostate cancer by treatment with human recombinant erythropoietin]

Abstract

Objectives: Anemia is a frequent finding in patients with prostate cancer. Reduction of erythropoiesis caused by androgenic blockade is among its etiologies. Therefore, quality of life of these patients results decreased, being origin of significant morbidity and mortality. Recombinant forms of human erythropoietin have demonstrated their effectiveness improving quality of life of patients with various solid tumors, but specific studies in prostate cancer are a few. Our objective is to evaluate the efficacy of human recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) correcting anemia and improving the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer.

Methods: Prospective study of patients with prostate cancer under combined androgenic blockade treatment having hemoglobin levels lower than 11 g/dl. We analyze clinical characteristics and quality of life prior to EPO dispense. We used the Triple Linear Analogical Scale for patients with cancer (CLAS) to evaluate quality of life. EPO was administered during 12 weeks (10.000 units subcutaneously, three times a week). We study the evolution of different parameters compared to baseline.

Results: We included a total of 17 patients. Average age was 75.5 +/- 5.9 yr. Average time of neoplasia evolution was 57.6 +/- 13.9 months. Eleven patients presented active disease (PSA > 1 ng/ml). Mean initial haemoglobin level was 10.3 +/- 0.4 mg/dl, reaching 12.2 +/ - 1.0 after treatment (p < 0.001). Patients with active disease and levels of initial haemoglobin smaller than 10.2 g/dl presented worse outcomes. There were not adverse events attributable to EPO.

Conclusions: We consider that the administration of EPO increases significantly the levels of haemoglobin and the quality of life of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma, being the response worse in patients with low levels of baseline haemoglobin.