[Anemia in lung cancer patients].

Anemia and fatigue are frequent in lung cancer patients. Anemia is due to cancer and platinum-based chemotherapy. Anemia leads to a wide range of symptoms and affects health-related quality of life. Anemia also worsens outcome of therapy and prognosis. Efficient treatment exist: blood transfusion and recombinant erythropoietin. Early treatment of anemia is recommended as soon as diagnosis is made. But few patients receive optimal treatment. Its cost and unsolved question regarding therapeutic strategies may explain this phenomenon. This debate should not preclude correct treatment prescription. Clinical trials have to be preformed to clarify unsolved questions. As EPO administration can affect survival, this point should be of particular interest in future trials.