In a study of epoetin alfa in patients with gynaecologic malignancies receiving polychemotherapy (70% with epithelial ovarian cancer), mean Hb increases of 1.5 and 1.6 g dl−1 were observed at 4 and 6 weeks, respectively, with an overall mean Hb increase of 3 g dl−1 at 12 weeks (Kurz et al, 1997). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is ovarian carcinoma.