Epoetin alfa therapy has been shown in both double-blind, placebo-controlled, and open-label studies to increase Hb levels in cancer patients receiving platinum- or nonplatinum-based chemotherapy, correcting anaemia, decreasing transfusion requirements, and subsequently improving patients’ QOL (Abels, 1992; Leitgeb et al, 1994; Glaspy et al, 1997; Demetri et al, 1998; Dammacco et al, 2001; Gabrilove et al, 2001; Littlewood et al, 2001; Thomas, 2002; Janinis et al, 2003; Shasha et al, 2003; Savonije et al, 2004; Chang et al, 2005; Witzig et al, 2005). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is cancer.