title: Thalidomide in multiple myeloma: lack of response of soft-tissue plasmacytomas.
abstract: Thalidomide is active in patients with refractory myeloma. Seventeen patients (nine men/eight women, median age 73 years) with multiple myeloma (MM) were treated with thalidomide. Fifteen patients had refractory disease and two untested relapse. The median dose of thalidomide was 500 mg (range, 200-800 mg). Nine of the 17 patients (53%) responded. The response rate was significantly higher in patients with no extramedullary disease than in those with soft tissue masses (75% CI: 43-95% versus 0%; P = 0.01)). Of note, no decrease in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas was observed in all the five patients who had extramedullary involvement. This data suggests that the mechanism of action and effectiveness of thalidomide might depend on the site of the tumour cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Haematology, Postgraduate School of Haematology Farreras-Valentí, Barcelona, Spain. jblade@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bladé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosiñol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuset
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montoto
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cobo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villela
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rafel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nomdedeu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montserrat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology; D064211:Connectin; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009194:Myeloma Proteins / Q000652:urine; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000473:pathology; D010954:Plasmacytoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure
chemical_list: D064211:Connectin; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009194:Myeloma Proteins; C085016:multiple myeloma M-proteins; D013792:Thalidomide