***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: PURPOSE This open-label , r and omized phase III study was design ed to investigate the effects of erythropoietin alfa ( EPO ) in addition to adjuvant chemotherapy and pelvic radiotherapy ( CRT ) in patients with stage IB to II cervical cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy . PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred fifty-seven patients were r and omly assigned to four cycles of carboplatin/ifosfamide chemotherapy followed by external-beam pelvic radiotherapy ( CRT group ) or four cycles of carboplatin/ifosfamide chemotherapy and EPO followed by pelvic radiotherapy and EPO ( CRT + EPO group ) . The primary end point was recurrence-free survival ( RFS ) . Secondary end points included overall survival ( OS ) , change in hemoglobin levels , and safety , including thromboembolic events . RESULTS The estimated 5-year RFS rates were 78 % for patients receiving CRT + EPO and 70 % for patients receiving CRT . There was no statistically significant difference in RFS , although a trend favoring patients treated with CRT + EPO was observed ( hazard ratio [ HR ] , 0.66 ; 95 % CI , 0.39 to 1.12 ; log-rank P = .06 ) . Exploratory analyses suggest a benefit with CRT + EPO for patients with stage IB to IIA disease ( HR , 0.39 ; 95 % CI , 0.18 to 0.85 ; P = .014 ) or patients with complete resection ( HR , 0.55 ; 95 % CI , 0.31 to 0.98 ; P = .039 ) . OS was similar in both groups ( HR , 0.88 ; 95 % CI , 0.51 to 1.50 ; log-rank P = .63 ) . Patients treated with EPO maintained higher hemoglobin levels throughout CRT . No significant differences in safety profiles were observed between the two groups . Incidence of thrombovascular events was low ( 2 % ) and comparable between both groups . CONCLUSION This study confirms that EPO can be added safely to CRT in patients with cervical cancer , but it failed to demonstrate a significant benefit in RFS and OS Summary Anaemia commonly occurs in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy , often necessitating blood transfusion . This multicentre study was design ed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of epoetin α in preventing the decline in haemoglobin ( Hb ) level , and to determine whether the transfusion requirement could be reduced , in patients receiving 4–6 cycles of primarily platinum-based combination cyclic chemotherapy for small cell lung cancer ( SCLC ) . A total of 130 non-anaemic SCLC patients were r and omized to receive no additional treatment ( n = 44 ) , epoetin α 150 IU kg–1 subcutaneously ( s.c . ) three times a week ( n = 42 ) or 300 IU kg–1 s.c . three times a week ( n = 44 ) . Reductions in epoetin α dosage were made during the study if Hb level increased to > 15 g dl–1 . The mean weekly dosage was 335 and 612 IU kg–1 , respectively , in the two active treatment groups . Significantly fewer ( P < 0.05 ) epoetin α-treated patients experienced anaemia ( Hb < 10 g dl–1 ) during the course of chemotherapy ( 300 IU kg–1 , 39 % ; 150 IU kg–1 , 48 % ; untreated , 66 % ) . This was reflected in the significantly lower number of treated patients transfused [ 300 IU kg–1 , 20 % ( P < 0.001 ) ; 150 IU kg–1 , 45 % ( P < 0.05 ) ; untreated , 59 % ] . Epoetin α was well-tolerated , and there was no evidence of sustained , clinical ly significant , hypertension . In summary , epoetin α is effective and well-tolerated in maintaining Hb level and reducing transfusion requirement in patients undergoing cyclic chemotherapy for SCLC A multicentre study evaluated the efficacy and safety of darbepoetin alpha administered weekly ( QW ) , every 3 weeks ( Q3W ) , and every 4 weeks ( Q4W ) to anaemic patients with cancer not concurrently receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy . The QW portion ( n=102 ) was an open-label , sequential , dose-escalation design ; cohorts received darbepoetin alpha QW by subcutaneous ( s.c . ) injection at 0.5 , 1.0 , 2.25 , or 4.5 μg kg−1 week−1 for 12 weeks . The 12-week placebo-controlled , double – blind Q3W ( 6.75 μg kg−1 ) and Q4W ( 6.75 or 10.0 μg kg−1 ) schedules ( n=86 ) , which enrolled different patients , took place after the QW schedule and were followed by a 12-week , open-label phase . Patients were evaluated for change in haemoglobin end points and red blood cell transfusions , serum darbepoetin alpha concentration , and safety . Selected domains of health-related quality of life ( HRQOL ) were measured . With QW dosing , at least 70 % of each cohort had a haemoglobin increase from baseline of ⩾2 g dl−1 or a concentration ⩾12 g dl−1 ( haematopoietic response ) . In the 4.5 μg kg−1 QW cohort , all patients achieved a haematopoietic response ( 100 % ; 95 % confidence interval (CI)=100 , 100 ) . In the Q3W and Q4W schedules , all cohorts had at least 60 % of patients who achieved a haematopoietic response .  Darbepoetin alpha effectively increases haemoglobin concentration when given QW , Q3W , or Q4W . Less-frequent administration may benefit patients with chronic anaemia of cancer and their caregivers alike This multicentre , open-label , controlled clinical trial assessed the effects of epoetin alfa treatment on haematologic and quality of life ( QOL ) parameters in 182 anaemic ( Hb⩽12 g dl−1 ) ovarian cancer patients receiving platinum chemotherapy . Patients were r and omised 2 : 1 to receive epoetin alfa 10 000–20 000 IU three times weekly plus best st and ard treatment ( BST ) or BST only . Main study end points were changes from baseline in haemoglobin ( Hb ) level , transfusion requirements , and QOL . For the epoetin alfa group , mean Hb increased by 1.8 g dl−1 by weeks 4–6 and was significantly increased from baseline through study end ( P<0.001 ) . The mean change in Hb from baseline was significantly ( P<0.001 ) greater for epoetin alfa than BST patients at all postbaseline evaluations . Significantly fewer epoetin alfa than BST patients required transfusion(s ) after the first 4 weeks of treatment ( 7.9 vs 30.5 % ; P<0.001 ) . Also , significant ( P⩽0.04 ) differences favouring the epoetin alfa group over the BST group were found for all three median CLAS scores ( Energy Level , Ability to Do Daily Activities , Overall QOL ) and the median average CLAS score during chemotherapy . These findings support use of epoetin alfa to increase Hb levels , reduce transfusion use , and improve QOL in anaemic ovarian cancer patients receiving platinum chemotherapy 8527 Background : This study was design ed to assess the effect of epoetin alfa ( EPO ) on hemoglobin ( Hb ) and quality of life ( QOL ) in children with cancer receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy ( CT ) . METHODS This was a double-blind , placebo (PBO)-controlled study of pts aged 5 - 18 y with malignant solid tumors ( ST ) , Hodgkin 's lymphoma ( HL ) , acute lymphocytic leukemia ( ALL ) , or non-Hodgkin 's lymphoma ( NHL ) and Hb < 12 g/dL. Pts were stratified by tumor type ( ST/HL or ALL/NHL ) and r and omized 1:1 to receive IV EPO 600 U/kg or PBO weekly for 16 wks . Primary end point was pt-reported Peds Quality of Life Inventory ( PedQL-I ™ ) Total Score ; secondary endpoints included parent-reported PedsQL-I and pt- and parent-reported PedsQL Cancer Module ( PedsQL-CM : Cognitive Problems , Communication , Nausea , Pain and Hurt , Physical Appearance , Procedural Anxiety , Treatment Anxiety , Worry ) , Hb , and transfusions . QOL was assessed using age-specific ( 5 - 7 y , 8 - 12 y , 13 - 18 y ) versions of each tool . RESULTS 222 pts ( 111 EPO , 111 PBO ) were included in the intent-to-treat analysis : 27 HL , 98 ST , 75 ALL , and 22 NHL . Neither the pt- nor parent-reported PedsQL-I Total Score was significantly different between groups at last value . A significant improvement was seen in the pt-reported PedsQL-I Total Score in pts 5 - 7 y ( EPO , n = 13 ; PBO , n = 32 ) receiving EPO vs PBO ( P = .043 ) . Pt- and parent-reported Cognitive Problems scores were improved in ALL/NHL pts receiving EPO vs PBO ( P=.026 and P=.014 , respectively ) , but no other PedsQL-CM domain . Mean Hb change at last value was not significantly different between groups . Repeated- measures analysis of Hb showed an improvement favoring EPO ( P = .012 ) . More pts treated with EPO vs PBO were transfusion free ( 36 % vs 23 % ; P=.038 ) . Death , serious adverse event , and discontinuation rates were similar in both groups . CONCLUSIONS IV EPO was well tolerated in pediatric cancer pts . Although few differences between QOL scores were detected , there was significant improvement in QOL in pts aged 5 - 7 y and improved Cognitive scores in ALL/NHL pts . EPO pts had greater increases in Hb and a significant reduction in transfusions vs PBO . [ Table : see text ] PURPOSE To determine whether weekly epoetin alfa could improve hemoglobin ( HgB ) levels , reduce RBC transfusions , and improve quality of life ( QOL ) in patients with advanced cancer and with anemia after receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy . PATIENTS AND METHODS This double-blind , placebo-controlled study r and omly assigned patients to placebo or epoetin alfa ( Ortho Biotech , Bridgewater , NJ ) 40,000 U subcutaneous weekly for 16 weeks . QOL , HgB , and RBC transfusions were measured pretreatment and monthly . RESULTS The study accrued 344 patients ; 330 were assessable for efficacy and 305 were assessable for QOL .  Placebo-treated patients had a mean increase in HgB of 0.9 g/dL ( range , -3.8 to + 5.3 ) compared with 2.8 g/dL ( range , -2.2 to + 7.5 ) for epoetin-treated patients ( P < .0001 ) . During the study , 31.7 % of placebo-treated patients achieved a > or = 2 g/dL HgB increase compared with 72.7 % of epoetin-treated patients ( P < .0001 ) . The incidence of RBC transfusion for placebo and epoetin treatment arms was 39.6 % and 25.3 % ( P = .005 ) , respectively . The placebo group received 256 units of RBCs compared with 127 units in the epoetin group ( P < .0001 ) . The incidence of toxicity in the groups was similar . Changes in the average QOL scores from baseline to the end of the study were similar in the two groups ( P = not significant ) . The HgB responders ( irrespective of treatment arm ) had a mean change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy ( FACT ) fatigue score from a baseline of + 5.1 compared with -2.1 for the nonresponders ( P = .006 ) . CONCLUSION Epoetin alfa significantly improved HgB and reduced transfusions in this patient population . These results support the use of weekly epoetin alfa as an ameliorative agent for cancer-related anemia This study evaluated the effects of epoetin alfa on patient-reported outcomes in patients with breast cancer receiving myelotoxic chemotherapy . Early intervention with epoetin alfa was well tolerated and improved anemia-related patient-reported outcomes OBJECTIVE The efficacy and safety of weekly administration of epoetin beta ( EPO ) for chemotherapy-induced anemia ( CIA ) patients was evaluated . METHODS One hundred and twenty-two patients with lung cancer or malignant lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy were r and omized to the EPO 36 000 IU group or the placebo group . Hematological response and red blood cell ( RBC ) transfusion requirement were assessed . Quality of life ( QOL ) was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia ( FACT-An ) question naire . RESULTS Mean change in hemoglo 
    Output:
    
The VTE risk among hematologic malignancies was higher than that among solid tumors .
The administration of ESAs was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing VTE in cancer patients receiving these drugs .
The risks of VTE may vary with various tumor types , including hematologic malignancies