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Cancer

Red Blood Cell Transfusions in Advanced Cancer: Benefits and Drawbacks

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study has shed light on the use of red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in patients with advanced cancer, particularly at the end of life. Researchers from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 84 patients who received at least one RBC transfusion between 2020 and 2024. The study aimed to assess the indications, practices, and clinical outcomes of RBC transfusions in hospitalized patients with advanced malignancy. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the benefits and drawbacks of RBC transfusions in this patient population.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 84 patients with a mean age of 47 years, comprising 34.6% with gastrointestinal cancer.
  • Low haemoglobin levels were the primary indication for RBC transfusions in most patients (82.4%), without specific symptoms being targeted.
  • There was no improvement in patients following multiple transfusion episodes (82.4%).
  • A moderate negative correlation was observed between age and survival days post-transfusion.
  • The study suggests that RBC transfusions may not be beneficial at the end of life, and more attention is warranted to establish targeted clinical outcomes pre-transfusion.
  • The use of validated self-reported tools is recommended to ensure the benefits of interventions involving limited and valuable resources.

Statistics:

  • 84 patients were included in the study, comprising a total of 159 episodes of transfusion.
  • The mean age of patients was 47 years (19.4%).
  • 34.6% of patients had gastrointestinal cancer as the primary location of the disease.
  • 82.4% of patients did not experience improvement following multiple transfusion episodes.
  • A moderate negative correlation (r = -0.53) was observed between age and survival days post-transfusion.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Reports from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center Advance Knowledge in Cancer (Blood Transfusions in Patients with Advanced Cancer at the End-of-Life: Are They Really Beneficial?). Cancer Weekly. September 16, 2025; p 844.
  • Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 2025;31(2):186-191.

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