Can intravenous iron lower the rate of blood transfusion in gynecologic cancer patients receiving platinum based chemotherapy than oral iron?

Anemia is a common condition during chemotherapy administration. Treatment options usually include oral iron supplementation and blood transfusion. However, oral iron has gastrointestinal side effects, which affects patient compliance, and only a small amount of oral iron can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Intravenous iron may overcome a block of iron absorption and iron recycling induced by hepcidin. Therefore, it may increase hemoglobin level and reduced blood transfusion in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 20-70 years
• Good performance status (Zubrod score < 2)
• No serious underlying disease
• Normal renal function test
• Normal liver function test
• Platinum based chemotherapy is the first line regimen
• No prior or receiving radiotherapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Iron hypersensitivity
• Underlying disease which has the risk of iron overload such as chronic kidney disease, major thalassemia
• Progressive disease
• Bone marrow metastasis