Amifostine pretreatment for protection against topotecan-induced hematologic toxicity: results of a multicenter phase III trial in patients with advanced gynecologic malignancies.

Objective: To determine if amifostine could reduce the hematologic toxicity associated with topotecan.

Methods: Thirty patients with recurrent/refractory gynecologic malignancies were randomized to receive topotecan (TOPO) (1.5 mg/m(2)/day days 1-5) with or without amifostine (AMI/TOPO) (500 mg/m(2)/day days 1-5) every 3 weeks for six cycles.

Prediction of the need for red cell transfusion in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients undergoing platinum-based treatment.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a predictive algorithm for the likelihood of red blood cell transfusion in women with ovarian cancer undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods: Patients in this analysis came from two phase III studies conducted by the Southwest Oncology Group and Gynecologic Oncology Group of platinum-based chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer patients, SWOG 8412 and SWOG 8501/GOG 104. The probability of packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion was modeled as a function of stage of disease, age, weight, creatinine clearance, hemoglobin (Hb) prior to the start of therapy, the platinum agent administered (i.