Early and Standard Intervention With 120,000 Units of PROCRIT (Epoetin Alfa) Every Three Weeks in Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

This is a randomized, open-label, multi-center study. Eligible patients will be identified during the screening phase. After randomization, the Treatment Phase will start at the Day 1, Week 1 visit. The entire study period will be up to 22 weeks, with the screening phase lasting up to two weeks, treatment for a maximum of 16 weeks, and safety follow-up for four weeks. The primary objective of this study is to obtain efficacy and safety data regarding PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) administered at 120,000 units subcutaneously (sc) once every three weeks (q3w) in 2 patient groups with cancer and anemia receiving chemotherapy:

• Early Intervention Group: PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) treatment started at patient hemoglobin (Hb) >= 11.0 g/dL to <= 12.0 g/dL and
• Standard Intervention Group: PROCRIT (Epoetin alfa) treatment started once patient hemoglobin drops to < 11 g/dL or has a Hb <11.0 g/dL at study entry.

For safety monitoring, all patients will be followed for adverse events, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), blood chemistries and blood pressure measurements throughout the study. All eligible patients with hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL will be randomized to receive Epoetin alfa injections (120,000 Units ) under the skin every 3 weeks for a maximum of 16 treatment weeks. Doses may be adjusted depending on the patients hemoglobin levels.

Inclusion criteria

• Biopsy confirmed diagnosis of non-myeloid malignancy
• Baseline hemoglobin (Hb) value of >= 11.0 g/dL and <= 12.0 g/dL
• No blood transfusions in the 28 days prior to the start of Treatment Phase
• Must be receiving chemotherapy or will begin receiving chemotherapy at start of Treatment
• Iron transferrin saturation (TSAT) > 20% or if TSAT<20%, serum ferritin must be greater than 100 ng/mL.

Exclusion criteria

• No myeloid malignancy or known history of myelodysplasia
• No planned radiation during the study
• Prior treatment with Epoetin alfa or any other erythropoietic agent (e.g., Darbepoetin alfa, gene-activated erythropoietin) within the previous three months
• No uncontrolled disease/dysfunction of the lung, cardiovascular, endocrine, neurologic, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary systems
• No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias (within 6 months) or pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis, ischemic stroke, other arterial or venous thrombotic events (excluding superficial thromboses), or known history of chronic hypercoagulable disorders
• Has not received an experimental drug or device within the past 30 days