Regular red blood cell transfusions are a reality of life for many people with blood cancer. That’s because treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation often kill the stem cells that produce red blood cells, leaving patients weak and tired. 

But now, a world-first clinical trial published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that blood cancer patients don’t need nearly as many blood transfusions as previously thought. The trial involved 300 blood cancer patients from four Canadian hospitals, all of whom received chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. 

The patients were randomly assigned to a liberal or a restrictive transfusion strategy based on hemoglobin levels. Patients in the restrictive group received nearly half as much blood as those in the liberal group, but their health-related quality of life was just as good. The results are expected to change practice around the world, helping many patients avoid unnecessary transfusions and saving tens of thousands of units of blood each year.

Authors: This study was led by Drs. Jason Tay, Dean Fergusson, David Allan and Alan Tinmouth at The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. Dr. Tay is now based at the University of Calgary. The full list of authors is: Tay J, Allan DS, Chatelain E, Coyle D, Elemary M, Fulford A, Petrcich W, Ramsay T, Walker I, Xenocostas A, Tinmouth A, Fergusson D.

Core Resources: Ottawa Methods Centre

Funders: Canadian Institute of Health Research, Canadian Blood Services. Research at The Ottawa Hospital is possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

The Ottawa Hospital is a leading academic health, research and learning hospital proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Research at The Ottawa Hospital is possible because of generous donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

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