OUTLINE: This is a randomized, controlled, multicenter, cross-over study. Patients are stratified according to morphologic subtype (refractory anemia [RA] vs RA with ringed sideroblasts vs RA with excess blasts), transfusion requirement (yes vs no), prior erythropoietin treatment (yes vs no), and erythropoietin level (at least 200 mU/mL vs less than 200 mU/mL). Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms.