Inhibitors of erythropoiesis do not act by inducing a hepatic acute-phase response or interfering with hypoxic sensing or EPO production. Prior to phlebotomy (Phleb), mice were pretreated with NS (Phleb Alone), carboplatin (Cp + Phleb), doxorubicin (Dox + Phleb), or anti-EPO. Control mice (No Phleb) were pretreated with NS but did not undergo phlebotomy. Messenger RNAs for SAA-1 (A, ▪), FGN-γ (A, ▦), and VEGF (B) were measured by real-time qRT-PCR relative to actin mRNA concentrations, and expressed as a ratio to no phlebotomy samples. Serum EPO concentration (C) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Means and SDs are shown with superscripts indicating *P = .001, ^#P < .05, ^&P < .001 by rank sum test compared to no phlebotomy, and ^%P = .003 by rank sum test compared to phlebotomy alone.