Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in gynecological malignancies: A study-level meta-analysis.

Abstract

This meta-analysis was planned to define the role of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in gynecological cancer patients, receiving myelosuppressive treatment. Pubmed, Medline and Scopus were searched to select English-language articles. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Endpoints were incidence of transfusions, thrombotic events (TE), deaths, and failures. Odd ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using fixed or random effects model. In seven RCTs ESAs studies of 892 patients under treatment, use of ESAs correlates with a significant reduction of transfusions rate (OR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.19-0.65; p=0.008). OR for overall mortality was 1.10 (95% CI 0.82-1.49; p=0.53). ESAs OR for disease failure in 5 studies was 1.71 (95% CI: 0.90-3.24; p=0.1). This meta-analysis, even if limited by few RCTs, suggests that ESAs reduce transfusions without increasing mortality or disease progression in gynecological cancer patients receiving treatment.

• Authors: C Marchetti, F De Felice, I Palaia, D Musio, L Muzii, V Tombolini, P Benedetti Panici
• Journal: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology (Crit Rev Oncol Hematol) Vol. 99 Pg. 123-8 (Mar 2016) ISSN: 1879-0461 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 26748593 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Hematinics

Topics

• Anemia (drug therapy, etiology)
• Disease Progression
• Erythropoiesis (drug effects)
• Hematinics (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Neoplasms (complications, therapy)