Cancer related anemia (CRA) is a common sign occurring in more than 30% of patients at diagnosis, prior to initiation of antineoplastic therapy. Anemia is known to impact survival, disease progression, treatment efficacy, and the patient's quality of life.
Proinflammatory cytokines, mainly IL-6, which are released by both tumor and immune cells, play a pivotal action in CRA etiopathogenesis: they promote alterations in erythroid progenitor proliferation, erythropoietin (EPO) production, survival of circulating erythrocytes, iron balance, redox status, and energy metabolism, all of which can lead to anemia. Chronic inflammatory conditions such as cancer influences a compromised nutritional status, which in-turn may contribute to anemia.
This study aims to study the role of intravenous (IV) iron infusion in the management of anemia presented in patients previously treated or currently being treated for ovarian cancer. The study aims to identify the safety and efficacy of IV iron infusion on anemia in ovarian cancer patients, and the effect on quality of life and overall survival