Pilot Study of Epoetin Alfa for Patients Having Abdominal or Pelvic Surgery for Cancer

This is a pilot, single center, prospective, double blinded, randomized study comparing epoetin alfa versus placebo. Eligible patients will just have undergone a major abdominal operation for malignancy (esophagectomy, gastrectomy, partial hepatectomy, partial pancreatectomy, or low anterior resection of rectum) and have a post-operative hemoglobin greater than 8 g/dL and less than 11 g/dL on post-operative day #1. On post-operative day #1 patients enrolled in the study will be randomized to receive either 40,000 units of epoetin alfa or placebo. On post-operative day #8, the patients will receive an additional dose of epoetin alfa or placebo (depending on randomization assignment and Hgb level). Hemoglobin, hematocrit, reticulocyte count, reticulocyte hemoglobin, and immature reticulocyte count will be measured on days 1, 4, 8, and once between post-operative days 20 and 30. Pre-operatively and between post-operative days 20 and 30 patients will complete a quality of live assessment tool (FACT-An) to assess their fatigue related to anemia.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients undergoing esophagectomy, gastrectomy, partial pancreatectomy, hepatic resection, or low anterior resection of rectum for malignancy
• Patients with hemoglobin greater than 8 and less than 11 g/dL on post-operative day #1.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients receiving red blood cell transfusion within the first twelve hours post-operatively.
• Patients receiving epoetin-stimulating proteins within 30 days prior to the operation.