Do Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents promote cancer?
The increased number of cancer deaths noted in the high Hb arm of the TREAT study, coupled with data from the oncology literature demonstrating increased tumor progression or recurrence among patients treated with ESAs, suggests that ESAs should be used with caution in patients with CKD with existing malignancies.
The recommendation is that ESA treatment and dosing should be individualized in the patient with Chronic Kidney Disease to weigh benefit versus risk and that very high doses of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents should be avoided.
