Objectives: Cancer related anemia is common comorbid treatable condition with potential impact on treatment response and quality of life. Data on treatment with ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) an i.v. iron preparation in cancer related anemia due to iron deficiency in Indian patients is sparse.

Materials and Methods: In this retrospective medical record based study, data of 147 patients with solid organ malignancies and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) who received FCM were retrieved. Hematological parameters i.e. hemoglobin (Hb), serum ferritin and transferring saturation (TSAT) were analyzed at baseline (i.e. before FCM administration) and at 4 weeks. Serious adverse events which were recorded in source documents on day of FCM infusion were collected.

Results: At the baseline, mean Hb was 8.7±1.2 gm/dl. At end of 4 weeks there was a statistically significant improvement in the mean Hb level of 9.79±0.87 (p value <0.001). The mean serum ferritin and serum TSAT level also showed a significant improvement (p value for both < 0.001). No SAE were recorded on day of FCM administration.

 Conclusions: This study adds to the wealth of Indian evidence of efficacy of FCM in cancer related anemia due to iron deficiency, as already demonstrated in other published studies. FCM may be considered as preferred i.v. iron preparation in this setting.