ENHANCED SURVIVAL OF CANCER PATIENTS TREATED WITH ERYTHROPOIETIN AND ANTITUMOR AGENTS

摘要

The present invention provides a method to treat anemic and non-anemic subjects having malignancies who receive non-platinum and platinum containing chemotherapy such that there is a reduced need for transfusion and a greater hemoglobin level after chemotherapeutic treatment. The present invention provides a method to treat anemic and non-anemic subjects having malignancies who receive non-platinum and platinum containing chemotherapy such that anemia may be successfully prevented or treated during the course of a chemotherapeutic regimen. The present invention provides a method to treat anemic and non-anemic subjects having malignancies who receive non-platinum and platinum containing chemotherapy such that the patients show greater quality of life, and show improvement in physical performance and well being. The present invention provides a method to treat anemic and non-anemic subjects having malignancies who receive non-platinum and platinum containing chemotherapy such that the overall survival rate after two years is increased compared to a treatment with a chemotherapeutic agent alone. The present invention provides algorithms for prediction of early response to erythropoietin therapy related to changes in ferritin, hemoglobin and transferrin receptor levels for subjects who receive non-platinum and platinum containing chemotherapy.