epoetin alfa + dexamethasone

This combination therapy involves the co-administration of epoetin alfa and dexamethasone. It was specifically evaluated by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) in a Phase III clinical trial (NCT00060398) to treat anemia-related fatigue in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Epoetin alfa is a recombinant erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that mimics the action of endogenous erythropoietin to stimulate red blood cell production. Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid added to the regimen to potentially enhance the efficacy of epoetin alfa and directly mitigate cancer-related fatigue through its anti-inflammatory and metabolic effects. The trial compared the combination against epoetin alfa monotherapy to determine if the addition of a low-dose steroid improved quality of life and functional status in this patient population.

Other names

epoetin alfa and dexamethasoneEpoetin Alfa +/- Dexamethasone for Fatigue in Prostate Cancer