A Thrombopoietin Receptor Agonist for Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia?

Thrombopoietin receptor agonists (TPO-RAs) are approved for use in patients with immune thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, and cirrhotic thrombocytopenia in need of procedures. These agents have also been studied in patients with chemotherapy-associated thrombocytopenia, which can result in the need for platelet transfusions, chemotherapy dose reductions, and chemotherapy treatment delays.

Now, investigators have conducted an industry-funded, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III study to evaluate the efficacy of the TPO-RA avatrombopag in 122 patients with chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (<50×10⁹ cells/L) and nonhematological malignancies (ovarian, bladder, or lung cancer). Patients were assigned (2:1) to receive ava…