OBJECTIVES:
Primary
* Compare the efficacy of darbepoetin alfa vs epoetin alfa for anemia in patients with non-myeloid malignancies receiving chemotherapy.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized, open-label, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to screening hemoglobin concentration (less than 10.0 g/dL vs 10.0-11.0 g/dL) and type of concurrent chemotherapy (platinum-based vs non-platinum-based). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
* Arm I: Patients receive darbepoetin alfa subcutaneously (SC) every other week for 12 weeks (i.e., on weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11).
* Arm II: Patients receive epoetin alfa SC once weekly for 12 weeks. Patients are followed at 1 and 3 weeks .
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 600 patients (300 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 6 months.
