If you're concerned about the safety of anemia drugs for patients with cancer, you might be wondering about the latest news regarding the use of this treatment. Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such as epoetin alfa (marketed as Procrit® or Epogen®) and darbepoetin alfa (marketed as Aranesp®) increase the production of red blood cells in patients with cancer whose red blood cell supply has been reduced as a side effect of chemotherapy. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated a trend toward shorter survival times in patients treated with these anemia drugs.

On March 14, 2008, the Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee, a panel that advises the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recommended that ESAs continue to be made available for patients with chemotherapy-related anemia. However, the advisory panel suggested that perhaps the use of these drugs should be restricted by cancer type or severity. Of particular concern is the use of these anemia drugs in patients with breast cancer or cancers of the head and neck since these patients seem to be at a higher safety risk.

Although the FDA is not obligated to follow the suggestions of its advisory committees, it usually adheres to their recommendations. The FDA will be considering the Oncologic Drug Advisory Committee's recommendations, but as of now, the safety of these anemia drugs is still unresolved. So, stay tuned.