Erythropoietic effect of plasma from patients with advanced cancer.

48 hr. In 14 anemic patients with lymphomaor leukemia and in 12 anemic patients with solid tumors, the erythropoietic effect of plasma was significantly reduced compared to 12 normal plasmas but was increased compared to 0.9% NaCl solution controls (p < 0.001). In contrast, the erythropoietic effect of plasma in 8 nonanemic patients (4 lymphomas or leukemias and 4 solid tumors) was similar to normal controls but was significantly different from results in their anemic counterparts (p < 0.001 ).