title: Thalidomide in refractory and relapsing multiple myeloma.
abstract: Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) refractory to chemotherapy can only benefit from supportive measures and have a very short survival. Thalidomide has recently shown antitumor activity in patients with refractory myeloma. Twenty-three patients (12 men and 11 women; median age, 72 years) with advanced MM were treated with thalidomide. Sixteen patients had refractory disease and seven had untested relapse. The median dose of thalidomide was 400 mg d (range, 200 to 800 mg/d). The drug was generally administered in two divided doses. Five patients required treatment discontinuation because of toxicity. Twelve of 23 patients (52%) responded. Three (13%) achieved a partial response, with greater than 50% reduction in serum monoclonal (M)-protein levels, and nine (39%) attained a minimal response, with a greater than 25% decrease in serum M-protein levels. No decrease in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas was observed in six patients with extramedullary involvement.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Hematology, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Villaroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bladé
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esteve
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosiñol
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perales
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montoto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuset
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Montserrat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide