[Thalidomide: new uses for an old drug].
Thalidomide was withdrawn from the market in the early sixties because of its teratogenic effects. Despite forty years of research, the mechanism of thalidomide embryopathy has remained unsolved. Thalidomide has various immunomodulatory effects. Thalidomide inhibits TNF alpha production, has T-cell costimulatory properties and modulates the expression of cell surface molecules on leukocytes in vivo. Thalidomide also has anti-angiogenic activity in vivo. Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma. In clinical studies, thalidomide has been used as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. Erythema nodosum leprosum is the only registered indication for the use of thalidomide in the United States of America. Thalidomide is also effective in the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease, mucocutaneous lesions in Behçet's syndrome and HIV infections, and multiple myeloma.
Erasmus Medisch Centrum, locatie Dijkzigt, afd. Hematologie, Postbus 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam.
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D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017277:Drug Approval; D004893:Erythema Nodosum / Q000188:drug therapy; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000188:drug therapy; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy; D009426:Netherlands; D013723:Teratogens; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; D013723:Teratogens; D013792:Thalidomide