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Brief Summary

GUIDELINE TITLE

Epoetin alfa, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa for cancer treatment-induced anaemia.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE(S)

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Epoetin alfa, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa for cancer treatment-induced anaemia. London (UK): National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2008 May. 36 p. (Technology appraisal guidance; no. 142).

GUIDELINE STATUS

This is the current release of the guideline.

** REGULATORY ALERT **

FDA WARNING/REGULATORY ALERT

Note from the National Guideline Clearinghouse: This guideline references drug(s) for which important revised regulatory and/or warning information has been released.

BRIEF SUMMARY CONTENT

 ** REGULATORY ALERT **
 RECOMMENDATIONS
 EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
 IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND AVAILABILITY
 DISCLAIMER

 Go to the Complete Summary

RECOMMENDATIONS

MAJOR RECOMMENDATIONS

This guidance does not cover the use of erythropoietin analogues (epoetin alfa, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa) in the management of cancer-related anaemia that is not induced by cancer treatment (chemotherapy or radiotherapy).

During this appraisal the regulatory health authorities have conducted reviews into the safety of erythropoietin analogues. This guidance was produced taking the conclusions of those reviews into consideration, and should be read in conjunction with the reports published by the regulatory health authorities.

Guidance

Erythropoietin analogues are not recommended for routine use in the management of cancer treatment-induced anaemia, except in the circumstances described below.

Erythropoietin analogues are recommended in combination with intravenous iron as an option for the management of cancer treatment-induced anaemia in women receiving platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer who have symptomatic anaemia with a haemoglobin level of 8 g/100 mL or lower. The use of erythropoietin analogues does not preclude the use of existing approaches to the management of anaemia, including blood transfusion where necessary.

Erythropoietin analogues in combination with intravenous iron may be considered for people who cannot be given blood transfusions and who have profound cancer treatment-related anaemia that is likely to have an impact on survival.

In the circumstances outlined above, the erythropoietin analogue with the lowest acquisition cost should be used.

People who are currently being treated with erythropoietin analogues for the management of cancer treatment-related anaemia but who do not fulfil the criteria outlined above should have the option to continue their therapy until they and their specialists consider it appropriate to stop.

CLINICAL ALGORITHM(S)

None provided

EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

TYPE OF EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS

The type of evidence supporting the recommendations is not specifically stated.

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION AND AVAILABILITY

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCE(S)

  • National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Epoetin alfa, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa for cancer treatment-induced anaemia. London (UK): National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); 2008 May. 36 p. (Technology appraisal guidance; no. 142).

ADAPTATION

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

DATE RELEASED

2008 May

GUIDELINE DEVELOPER(S)

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) - National Government Agency [Non-U.S.]

SOURCE(S) OF FUNDING

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)

GUIDELINE COMMITTEE

Appraisal Committee

COMPOSITION OF GROUP THAT AUTHORED THE GUIDELINE

Committee Members: Professor Keith Abrams, Professor of Medical Statistics, University of Leicester; Dr Jeff Aronson, Reader in Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Primary Health Care, University of Oxford; Dr Darren Ashcroft, Reader in Medicines Usage and Safety, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Manchester; Professor David Barnett (Chair), Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leicester; Dr Peter Barry, Consultant in Paediatric Intensive Care, Leicester Royal Infirmary; Professor Stirling Bryan, Head, Department of Health Economics, University of Birmingham; Professor John Cairns, Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Dr Mark Charkravarty, Director, External Relations, Procter and Gamble Health Care, Europe; Professor Jack Dowie, Health Economist, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; Ms Lynn Field, Nurse Director, Pan Birmingham Cancer Network; Professor Christopher Fowler, Professor of Surgical Education, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London; Dr Fergus Gleeson, Consultant Radiologist, Churchill Hospital, Oxford; Ms Sally Gooch, Independent Nursing and Healthcare Consultant; Mrs Barbara Greggains, Lay member; Mr Sanjay Gupta, Former Service Manager in Stroke, Gastroenterology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Foundation NHS Trust; Mr Terence Lewis, Lay member; Professor Gary McVeigh, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine, Queens University, Belfast; Consultant Physician, Belfast Trust; Dr Ruairidh Milne, Senior Lecturer in Public Health, National Coordinating Centre for Health Technology, University of Southampton; Dr Neil Milner, General Medical Practitioner, Tramways Medical Centre, Sheffield; Dr Rubin Minhas, General Practitioner, CHD Clinical Lead, Medway Primary Care Trust; Dr John Pounsford, Consultant Physician, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol; Dr Rosalind Ramsay, Consultant Psychiatrist, Adult Mental Health Services, Maudsley Hospital; Dr Stephen Saltissi, Consultant Cardiologist, Royal Liverpool University Hospital; Dr Lindsay Smith, General Practitioner, East Somerset Research Consortium; Mr Roderick Smith, Director of Finance, West Kent PCT; Mr Cliff Snelling, Lay member; Professor Ken Stein (Vice-Chair), Professor of Public Health, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter; Professor Andrew Stevens, Professor of Public Health, Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, University of Birmingham; Dr Rod Taylor, Associate Professor in Health Services Research, Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES/CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Committee members are asked to declare any interests in the technology to be appraised. If it is considered there is a conflict of interest, the member is excluded from participating further in that appraisal.

GUIDELINE STATUS

This is the current release of the guideline.

GUIDELINE AVAILABILITY

AVAILABILITY OF COMPANION DOCUMENTS

The following are available:

Print copies: Available from the National Health Service (NHS) Response Line 0870 1555 455. ref: N1563. 11 Strand, London, WC2N 5HR.

PATIENT RESOURCES

The following is available:

Print copies: Available from the National Health Service (NHS) Response Line 0870 1555 455. ref: N1564. 11 Strand, London, WC2N 5HR.

Please note: This patient information is intended to provide health professionals with information to share with their patients to help them better understand their health and their diagnosed disorders. By providing access to this patient information, it is not the intention of NGC to provide specific medical advice for particular patients. Rather we urge patients and their representatives to review this material and then to consult with a licensed health professional for evaluation of treatment options suitable for them as well as for diagnosis and answers to their personal medical questions. This patient information has been derived and prepared from a guideline for health care professionals included on NGC by the authors or publishers of that original guideline. The patient information is not reviewed by NGC to establish whether or not it accurately reflects the original guideline's content.

NGC STATUS

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

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DISCLAIMER

NGC DISCLAIMER

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