Study of Aranesp to Treat Anemia in Prostate Cancer Patients.

This study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Darbepoetin alfa, (also referred to as Aranesp or NESP), to assess what dose of NESP is required to treat anemia in prostate cancer patients, what the side effects of NESP are, and whether NESP will affect the patients' quality of life. NESP is approved by the FDA for the treatment of anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure and for the treatment of anemia in cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy. It is considered experimental for the treatment of anemia in prostate cancer patients.