Efficacy and safety of IV ferumoxytol for iron deficiency anemia in patients with cancer.

purposeIron deficiency anemia (IDA) is common in cancer patients due to blood loss and inflammation. Many do not tolerate oral iron or adequately respond. Intravenous (IV) iron is commonly used as an adjunct to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; data on the use of IV iron monotherapy in these patients are limited. This study aimed to evaluate IV ferumoxytol for the treatment of cancer patients with IDA with a history of unsatisfactory oral iron therapy or in whom oral iron could not be used. PATIENTS AND

methodsThis post hoc analysis of pooled data from two multicenter, randomized, controlled, Phase III trials evaluating IV ferumoxytol (510 mg ×2) vs placebo or iron sucrose (200 mg ×5) included a subgroup of 98 patients with cancer that the investigator identified as the primary cause of their IDA, or with cancer whose IDA was attributed to another comorbid condition (ferumoxytol, n=75; iron sucrose, n=13; placebo, n=10). Gastrointestinal cancers were most common (42), followed by breast (14), cervix (ten), and lung (nine). The primary endpoint was the mean change in hemoglobin (Hgb) from baseline to week 5.

resultsAt week 5, both ferumoxytol and iron sucrose produced significant increases in Hgb from baseline (1.8 g/dL [

conclusionMonotherapy with IV iron appears to be an effective option for cancer patients with IDA who do not respond to or cannot tolerate oral iron therapy.