Anemia, Breast Neoplasms, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Hemoglobins, Quality of Life
Conditions
Keywords
Anemia, Breast cancer, Hemoglobin, Quality of Life, Adjuvant Chemotherapy, Pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), Cognitive and executive function
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether it is possible to measure temporary difficulty with thinking and/or short-term memory in women who are receiving chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer and to determine whether or not treatment with PROCRIT® will help decrease any problems with thinking or short-term memory that chemotherapy may cause.
Detailed description
Studies of the effect of erythropoietin on rat and mouse brain suggests a neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing effect of this hormone. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the incidence of chemotherapy-related impairment of cognitive and executive function in breast cancer patients randomized to receive PROCRIT versus placebo while receiving adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy with or without a Taxane and to evaluate the effect of PROCRIT® on the incidence of asthenia (severe fatigue), quality of life (QoL), and mood. Patients received study medication injections (40,000 units) under their skin once every week for 12 to 24 weeks of chemotherapy. Doses were adjusted depending on the patients' hemoglobin level up to a maximum of 60,000 units.
Interventions
DRUGepoetin alfa
Sponsors
Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Histologic diagnosis of Stage I, II or III cancer (chemotherapy naïve for breast cancer) with anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy with or without a taxane * Hemoglobin \>=9 and \<=14 g/dL unrelated to transfusion * Able to read, understand and complete QoL & Cognition tools * Patients with reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of study enrollment and use an adequate contraceptive method
Exclusion criteria
* Patients who will receive more than a total of 24 weeks of chemotherapy * psychiatric or neurologic condition that would prevent informed consent and completion of questionnaires or that is poorly controlled with the current treatment regimen * severe hemiparesis or other condition, distal neuropathy, action tremor or other motor dysfunction, visual deficiencies preventing/decrease bimanual keyboard operation * severe bradyphrenia (slow thinking) or bradykinesia (slow movement)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To assess the effect of PROCRIT® on impairment of cognitive and executive function | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To assess the effect of PROCRIT® on severe fatigue, quality of life and mood. Hemoglobin (Hg) Responders were those patients who did not require transfusion during the treatment phase and who demonstrated a > or = 2 g/dL increase in Hg or Hg of 12 g/dL. | — |
Outcome results
None listed