Therapy with thalidomide in refractory multiple myeloma patients - the revival of an old drug.
We have treated 17 refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma patients resistant to chemotherapy with thalidomide at a dose of 200-800 mg/day. Eleven patients responded, five of whom had a very good partial response (> 75% decline in M protein) and another five exhibited a partial response (> 50% decline in M protein). Except for one patient, treatment was well tolerated with only mild side-effects. Thalidomide should be included in the therapeutic options for refractory myeloma.
Kneller
A
A
The Institute of Haematology, The Chaim Sheba Medical Centre, Tel-Hashomer, and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Raanani
P
P
Hardan
I
I
Avigdor
A
A
Levi
I
I
Berkowicz
M
M
Ben-Bassat
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide