The Phase 3 RECITE trial found that romiplostim can help gastrointestinal cancer patients stay on full-dose chemotherapy by preventing chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT), a condition marked by dangerously low platelet counts. The international study included 165 patients, most with stage 4 colorectal cancer receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.
Researchers reported that 84% of patients treated with romiplostim avoided chemotherapy delays, dose reductions, or treatment discontinuation due to low platelets, compared with only 36% of patients receiving placebo. The drug was generally well tolerated, with slightly higher treatment-related side effects than placebo. Serious blood clot events remained rare.
Romiplostim is already recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and widely covered by insurance, making future placebo-controlled survival studies difficult because patients can access the drug outside trials. Researchers now plan to rely on real-world patient data to determine whether maintaining full chemotherapy intensity with romiplostim ultimately improves long-term survival outcomes.