Recombinant Erythropoietin

Anemia is a frequent complication of cancer and its treatment. A number of clinical studies shows that the impact of anemia is much greater than previously thought. Beyond clinical symptoms, anemia significantly impairs physical and metabolic functions as well as patients' activity, well-being and quality of life. Life expectancy is also affected. In this book, written by a group of outstanding international experts, the current knowledge on anemia in cancer and its treatment with rhEPO is presented. Future developments are also discussed. Based on a broad spectrum of topics, the book describes the scientific and clinical aspects of anemia in various fields of oncology and gives diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations on when and how to use rhEPO.

A comprehensive one-source guide to the most current information on red blood cell formation and the action of recombinant human erythropoietins. Topics covered include: erythropoiesis, recombinant protein discovery and production, and treatment of patients with anemia. The newest theories in erythropoiesis (receptors, signaling), manufacturing, new formulations, and clinical research are discussed. The text is ideal for researchers and clinical investigators in academia, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as clinical research associates, clinical monitors, and physician investigators. This softcover volume is an unchanged second printing of the hardcover edition published in 2003.

A comprehensive one-source guide to the most current information on red blood cell formation and the action of recombinant human erythropoietins. Topics covered include: erythropoiesis, recombinant protein discovery and production, and treatment of patients with anemia. The newest theories in erythropoiesis (receptors, signaling), manufacturing, new formulations, and clinical research are discussed. The text is ideal for researchers and clinical investigators in academia, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as clinical research associates, clinical monitors, and physician investigators.

The book contains a series of about 40 articles reflecting the state-of-the-art of the topic "Pathophysiology and Pharmacology of Erythropoietin". Results from both basic research and clinical studies are described in detail. The papers show that the possible therapeutic spectrum of erythropoietin could be expanded considerably when compared with the present situation.

The book contains a series of up-to-date review articles on the physiology and pathophysiology of the control of the production of red cells by the hormone erythropoietin. In addition, the results are reported of initial clinical trials using recombinant human erythropoietin (rhuEpo) in the treatment of the anemia of renal failure. The introductory chapter briefly recalls the history of erythropoietin research. The following section on the chemistry and physiology covers details of the structure of the hormone, assay methods, the identification of renal and extrarenal sites of the production of erythropoietin by in situ hybridization and the hypoxic stimulation of its production. A special chapter is devoted to the regulation of erythropoiesis in the neonatal period. There follows a section on pathophysiology, which includes respiratory, renal and malignant diseases in humans. In the final section the pharmacology of rhuEpo is considered. The strategy of the cloning and in vitro expression of the erythropoietin gene is described. Four chapters summarize clinical observations of the effects of rhuEpo in the correction of the anemia of renal failure, including the rise in hematocrit, blood viscosity and possibly hypertension, and the increased physical work capacity of the patients. The monograph will prove useful not only to investigators working in the basic fields of physiology, pharmacology and endocrinology, but also to practising physicians, especially hematologists and nephrologists, who are interested in erythropoietin for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.