Epoetin Alfa or Epoetin Beta With or Without Iron Infusion in Treating Anemia in Patients With Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Diagnosis of nonmyeloid malignancy
• * No primary bone marrow malignancies except multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Candidate for erythropoietin stimulatory activity therapy for anemia due to cancer and/or chemotherapy
• * Baseline hemoglobin ≤ 10.5 g/dL
• * Planning to receive ≥ 6 additional weeks of chemotherapy for the malignancy
• Demonstrates iron-replete status as defined by all of the following parameters:
• * Percent saturation of transferrin ≥ 20%
• * Serum ferritin 225-2,250 pmol/L
• * Reticulocyte hemoglobin content \> 31 pg
• * Zinc protoporphyrin \< 80 µg/dL
• No anemia of origin other than cancer or cancer chemotherapy
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• ECOG performance status 0-2
• No allergy or intolerance to recombinant epoetin alfa or epoetin beta
• No known sensitivity to iron sucrose injection or iron dextran complex
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No active infection
• No active bleeding
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• See Disease Characteristics
• No prior iron sucrose injection or iron dextran complex therapy
• More than 6 months since prior and no concurrent transfusion