RATIONALE: Darbepoetin alfa may cause the body to make more red blood cells. Red blood cells contain iron that is needed to carry oxygen to the tissues. It is not yet known whether giving darbepoetin alfa (DA) together with intravenous iron or oral iron is more effective than giving darbepoetin alfa together with a placebo in treating anemia caused by chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying giving darbepoetin alfa together with iron to see how well it works compared with giving darbepoetin alfa together with a placebo in treating anemia caused by chemotherapy in patients with cancer.
Name: darbepoetin alfa
Name: ferrous sulfate
Name: sodium ferric gluconate complex in sucrose
Name: placebo
Description: Hematopoietic response was defined as Hemoglobin (Hb) increment of 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of Hb >= 11 g/dL (whichever occurs first) in the absence of red blood cell transfusions during the preceding 28 days during the treatment period.
Measure: Hematopoietic Response Rate Defined as the Number of Participants Who Exhibit a Hematopoietic Response Time: 16 WeeksDescription: Value at 7 weeks minus value at baseline.
Measure: Mean Increment in Hemoglobin Level at Week 7 Time: Baseline and 7 weeksDescription: Value at 16 weeks minus value at baseline.
Measure: Mean Increment in Hemoglobin Level at Week 16 Time: Baseline and 16 weeksDescription: Hematopoietic response was defined as Hb increment of 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of Hb >= 11 g/dL (whichever occurs first) in the absence of red blood cell transfusions during the preceding 28 days during the treatment period.
Measure: Time to Hematopoietic Response Time: 16 weeksDescription: Overall QOL item score range: 0 (Worst) to 10 (Best), ordinal. Change: score at 16 weeks minus score at baseline.
Measure: Change From Baseline in Overall Quality of Life (QOL) Score as Measured by the Linear Analogue Self Assessment (LASA) Time: Baseline and 16 weeksDescription: SDS Scale range: 0 (Worst), 100 (Best), ordinal. Change: score at 16 weeks minus score at baseline. A clinically significant result will be defined as a shift of 10 points on a 0-100 point transformed scale between the average QOL scores of the 3 variants of iron therapy.
Measure: Change From Baseline in Quality of Life (QOL) Score as Measured by Symptom Distress Scale (SDS) at End of Study Time: Baseline and 16 weeksDescription: Fatigue Now Scale range: 0 (No Fatigue) to 10 (Worst), ordinal. Change: score at 16 weeks minus score at baseline.
Measure: Change From Baseline in Quality of Life (QOL) Score as Measured by Brief Fatigue Inventory(BFI) Fatigue Now Scale at End of Study Time: Baseline and 16 weeksDescription: FACT-AN Scale range: 0 (Worst) to 100 (Best), ordinal. Change: score at 16 weeks minus score at baseline. A clinically significant result will be defined as a shift of 10 points on a 0-100 point transformed scale between the average QOL scores of the 3 variants of iron therapy.
Measure: Change From Baseline in Quality of Life (QOL) Score as Measured by The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Anemia (FACT-An) at End of Study Time: Baseline and 16 weeksDescription: MCV is a measure of the average red blood cell volume.
Measure: Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) Level at Baseline, Week 7 and Week 16 Time: Baseline, 7 weeks and 16 weeksAllocation: Randomized
Parallel Assignment
There are 2 SNPs
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months Anemia Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorder Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Precancerous Condition Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Lymphoma Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Precancerous Conditions Anemia Lymphoproliferative Disorders OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the effects of IV iron, oral iron, or placebo in combination with darbepoetin alfa on the hematopoietic response rate, defined as a hemoglobin increment of ≥ 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of hemoglobin of ≥ 11 g/dL in the absence of red blood cell transfusions (RBC) in the preceding 28 days of the treatment period, in cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated anemia. --- C282Y ---
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months Anemia Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorder Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Precancerous Condition Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Lymphoma Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Precancerous Conditions Anemia Lymphoproliferative Disorders OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the effects of IV iron, oral iron, or placebo in combination with darbepoetin alfa on the hematopoietic response rate, defined as a hemoglobin increment of ≥ 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of hemoglobin of ≥ 11 g/dL in the absence of red blood cell transfusions (RBC) in the preceding 28 days of the treatment period, in cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated anemia. --- C282Y --- --- H63D --- --- C282Y ---
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months Anemia Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorder Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Precancerous Condition Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Lymphoma Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Precancerous Conditions Anemia Lymphoproliferative Disorders OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the effects of IV iron, oral iron, or placebo in combination with darbepoetin alfa on the hematopoietic response rate, defined as a hemoglobin increment of ≥ 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of hemoglobin of ≥ 11 g/dL in the absence of red blood cell transfusions (RBC) in the preceding 28 days of the treatment period, in cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated anemia. --- C282Y --- --- H63D ---
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: - Diagnosis of a non-myeloid cancer (other than non-melanomatous skin cancer) - Receiving or scheduled to receive chemotherapy (biological agents, such as small molecules/tyrosine kinase inhibitors and antibody-based therapies, are allowed) - Has chemotherapy-related anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL) - No anemia known to be secondary to gastrointestinal bleeding or hemolysis - No anemia known to be secondary to vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency + Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency must be ruled out if the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) is > 100 fL - No anemia secondary to chemotherapy-induced myelodysplastic syndromes - No primary hematologic disorder causing moderate to severe anemia (e.g., congenital dyserythropoietic anemia, homozygous hemoglobin S disease or compound heterozygous sickling states, or thalassemia major) - Carriers for these disease states are eligible - No first-degree relative with primary hemochromatosis (unless the patient has undergone HFE genotyping and was found to have at least one wild-type allele, while the proband in the family demonstrated to have either the common C282Y or H63D mutation) PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: - ECOG performance status 0-2 - Ferritin > 20 mcg/L (i.e., not obviously iron deficient) - ALT or AST < 5 times upper limit of normal - Alert, mentally competent, and able to sign informed consent - Not pregnant or nursing - Negative pregnancy test - Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 3 months after completion of study treatment - Willing or able to be randomized and undergo study treatment - Willing or able to fill out quality-of-life forms - No uncontrolled hypertension (i.e., systolic blood pressure [BP] ≥ 180 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥ 100 mm Hg) - No history of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias - No pulmonary embolism or deep venous thrombosis within the past year (unless the patient is on anticoagulation therapy and planning to continue it during study participation) - No known hypersensitivity to darbepoetin alfa, erythropoietin, mammalian cell-derived products, iron, or human albumin - No seizures within the past 3 months - No gastrointestinal conditions expected to cause significant impairment of oral iron, such as untreated celiac disease or amyloidosis involving the gut - Patients with celiac disease who are adhering to a gluten-free diet are eligible PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: - See Disease Characteristics - More than 3 months since prior darbepoetin alfa, epoetin alfa, or any investigational forms of erythropoietin (e.g., gene-activated erythropoietin or novel erythropoiesis-stimulating protein) - More than 1 year since prior peripheral blood stem cell or bone marrow transplantation - More than 2 weeks since prior red blood cell transfusions - More than 14 days since prior major surgery - No prior gastrectomy or resection of > 100 cm of small intestine - Not planning to undergo stem cell or bone marrow transplantation within the next 6 months Anemia Leukemia Lymphoma Lymphoproliferative Disorder Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm Precancerous Condition Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific Lymphoma Leukemia Multiple Myeloma Neoplasms, Plasma Cell Precancerous Conditions Anemia Lymphoproliferative Disorders OBJECTIVES: Primary * To compare the effects of IV iron, oral iron, or placebo in combination with darbepoetin alfa on the hematopoietic response rate, defined as a hemoglobin increment of ≥ 2.0 g/dL from baseline or achievement of hemoglobin of ≥ 11 g/dL in the absence of red blood cell transfusions (RBC) in the preceding 28 days of the treatment period, in cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated anemia. --- C282Y --- --- H63D --- --- C282Y --- --- H63D ---