Onkológia 5/2013

Current recommendations for the treatment of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in the treatment of patients with non-hematologic cancer and cancer treatment-induced anemia

Anemia is a common complication in patients with malignancy and also a negative prognostic factor for survival. One of the possible treatment options of cancer-related anemia is the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating growth factors (ESA). However, use of these agents in patients with cancer has become controversial. The aim of this article is to focus on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating growth factors in the treatment of anemia in patients with non-hematologic cancer and cancer treatement-induced anemia and discuss some of the more contentious issues in the context of this treatment.

Keywords: erythropoiesis-stimulating growth factors, anemia, chemotherapy.