Recombinant Human Erythropoietin in Children with Solid Tumors and Chemotherapy-induced Anemia

In patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, anemia is part of the progression of the disease. Considering the effects of anemia on quality of life of the patients, the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia is crucial. This study was aimed to evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human erythropoietin in reducing the need for blood transfusion in children with solid tumors receiving chemotherapy.
In a clinical trial, 57 children referred to the pediatric centre of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences with a diagnosis of solid tumor were randomly assigned into two groups. The intervention group (n=29) received recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) at a dose of 450 IU/kg subcutaneously once a week for 12 weeks, and the control group (n=28) received no intervention in this regard. Hemoglobin levels were analysed at the beginning and end of the study. The need for blood transfusion was also assessed in the patients.
The mean Hb at the beginning of the study was 8.85±1.01 and 8.98±0.11 g in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean Hb at the end of the study was 9.78±0.32 g/dl in the intervention group and 7.79±0.24 g/dl in the control group. Hb level was significantly higher in the intervention group at the end of the 12 weeks of treatment with rHuEPO than in the control group (P=0.001).
Based on the results of this study, rHuEPO administration seems to be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced anemia in children with solid tumors and reduces the amount of blood transfusion in these patients.