Low SerumEPO associated with good Aranesp/Procrit/Epogen response

[Birgitta-A]

Efficacy and safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins in myelodysplastic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Oncologist. 2007 Oct;12(10):1264-73
Ross SD et al
F.R.C.P.C., United BioSource Corporation, 101 Station Landing, Medford,
Massachusetts 02155, USA. Susan.ross@unitedbiosource.com.

Objective
The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of erythropoiesis-stimulating proteins (ESPs) in anemia of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

Method
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted covering English-language studies published from 1980 to December 2005.

Results
Fifty-nine studies qualified: five controlled trials (n = 354), all epoetin versus control (EvC); 51 epoetin (Procrit/Epogen) single-arm studies (n = 1,650); and three darbepoetin (Aranesp) single-arm studies (n = 102).

In the EvC studies, epoetin patients demonstrated a significant advantage over controls in terms of hemoglobin (Hb) response (odds ratio, 5.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-10.8). Hb response was 48.1% in single-arm darbepoetin studies, 32.1% in epoetin single-arm studies, and 27.3% in EvC studies.

Major Hb response averaged 38.8% in darbepoetin studies, 24.5% in epoetin single-arm studies, and 11.4% in EvC studies. Stratified analyses suggest that lower baseline erythropoietin levels, longer treatment durations, and concurrent iron may be associated with greater Hb response to ESPs.

None of the analyzable predictors of Hb response (gender, baseline Hb, ESP type, and ESP duration) were significant in meta-regression analyses.

In the few studies with quality-of-life measures, ESP groups attained a pre-post change (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Fatigue) that exceeded minimum clinically important differences. Selected adverse event rates did not differ between the epoetin and darbepoetin groups.

Conclusion
Published studies suggest that ESPs are efficacious in anemia of MDS. Hb response appears higher in darbepoetin patients than in epoetin patients, and safety appears comparable, but darbepoetin data are sparse, and there are as yet no direct comparison studies.
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Birgitta