Chemotherapy can often cause anemia in patients with cancer. Anemia is a low number of red
blood cells. The symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, dizziness, headache, chest pain, and
shortness of breath. Erythropoietin is a hormone made by the kidneys that signals the bone
marrow to produce more red blood cells. Recombinant human erythropoietin has been produced in
the laboratory and has the same effect as the hormone produced by the body. Use of
recombinant human erythropoietin allows the body to produce more red blood cells, possibly
eliminating or decreasing your symptoms and the need for a red blood cell transfusion.
Recombinant human erythropoietin is FDA approved to treat anemia in cancer patients receiving
chemotherapy. This clinical study is investigating the effectiveness of darbepoetin alfa for
the treatment of anemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies who are receiving
multicycle chemotherapy. Darbepoetin alfa is a recombinant erythropoietic protein that
stimulates the production of red blood cells. This medication has not been approved to treat
cancer patients with anemia, however it has been approved by the FDA to treat chronic renal
failure patients with anemia.