title: Thalidomide: from tragedy to promise.
abstract: Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic drug. Although the exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, it has been shown to be active in a variety of diseases. There are multiple trials going on to evaluate the optimal dose of thalidomide and the importance of combining thalidomide with other drugs. This review introduces the properties and putative mechanism of action of thalidomide and summarizes the most important clinical trials with this biological modifier.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Kantonsspital, CH-9007 St. Gallen, Switzerland. roger.vonmoos@kssg.ch
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: von Moos
authors.forename: Rahel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stolz
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cerny
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gillessen
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000266:history / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D013792:Thalidomide