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Nature Biotechnology 26, 483 (1 May 2008) | doi:10.1038/nbt0508-483b

Changes for ESAs

B J Spalding

Recommendations March 13 by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee for three erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) included suggestions of a black box warning on the products for an association with increased tumor growth and shortened survival time. And the panel voted against using ESAs in patients with metastatic breast cancer, as well as cancer of the head and neck and in patients likely to be cured by treatment.