Weighing the Hazards of Erythropoiesis Stimulation in Patients with Cancer

Interview with James Doroshow on the possible risks associated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. (06:49)Download On May 10, 2007, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) convened a meeting of its Oncology Drug Advisory Committee to discuss concerns about risks associated with the erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) used to treat anemia caused by chemotherapy. The principal ESAs under scrutiny were epoetin alfa (Procrit, Eprex, and Epogen) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp), and the risks — actual or potential — were thromboembolic disease, promotion of tumor growth, and decreased survival. The actual risk of thromboembolic events was shown in two phase 3 clinical trials, reported in the Journal in 2006, that unequivocally showed an increased risk of death or . . .