Physiology of erythropoiesis.- Biology of EPO.- EPO and EPO-receptor expression in tumor cells and their functional role.- Classification and characterization of anemia in cancer.- Pathophysiology of cancer-related and chemotherapy-induced anemia.- Prevalence, incidence, and treatment of anemia in cancer patients.- Prognostic significance of anemia in cancer chemotherapy.- Incidence and impact of anemia in radiation oncology.- Relationship between anemia and tumor hypoxia.- Tumor hypoxia and therapeutic resistance.- Symptomatology of anemia.- Impact of anemia on organ functions.- Relationship of hemoglobin, fatigue, and quality of life in anemic cancer patients.- Red blood cell transfusions, risks and limitations.- Pharmacology, pharmacokinetics and safety of rhEPO.- rhEPO in anemia associated with multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.- rhEPO in myeloid disorders.- rhEPO in anemia associated with solid tumors and chemotherapy.- Predictive factors for response of anemia to rhEPO.- rhEPO in hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, transplantation, and in-vitro expansion.- rhEPO in radiation oncology.- rhEPO in pediatric oncology.- rhEPO in surgical oncology.- Erythropoiesis, iron metabolism and iron supplementation during treatment with rhEPO.- Optimal level of hemoglobin in cancer patients.- Metabolic and physiologic effects of rhEPO in anemic cancer patients.- Effects of rhEPO on quality of life in anemic cancer patients.- Effect of rhEPO on survival in anemic cancer patients.- Neuroprotective effects of erythropoietin.- Effects of rhEPO in patients with anemia and chronic heart failure.- Current status and future developments of rhEPO in clinical oncology.