Epoetin beta in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving chemotherapy: Results from the Breast Cancer - Anemia and the Value of Erythropoietin (BRAVE) study

8141 Background: Many patients with metastatic breast cancer are treated with anthracycline and/or taxane-based chemotherapy; such therapies produce a high incidence of anemia. The aim of the BRAVE study was to evaluate the impact on survival, efficacy, safety and quality of life (QoL) of once-weekly epoetin beta 30 000 IU (NeoRecormon) in patients with metastatic breast cancer receiving anthracycline and/or taxane-based chemotherapy. Methods: Adult patients with metastatic breast cancer, scheduled to receive anthracycline and/or taxane-based chemotherapy and with hemoglobin (Hb) <12.9 g/dl at screening were entered into this open-label, randomized, multicenter, two-arm study. Patients were randomized to receive epoetin beta 30 000 IU once weekly or standard care (red blood cell transfusion as required) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was overall survival, which will be available 18 months after the last patient last treatment visit. Results: Recruitment for the study was completed in June 2004 and 463...