title: Advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma: the role of thalidomide.
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) accounts for 1% of all malignancies and 10% of malignant hematological neoplasms. In spite of high-dose therapy with stem cell rescue, relapse and disease resistance are common events in the course of the disease. Thalidomide (Thal) has been successfully used in such situations and it's use has also been expanded to the up-front therapy and as adjuvant to stem cell transplantation. Here, we review the underlying concepts and current clinical data regarding Thal in the treatment of MM.
authors.affiliation: Discipline of Hematology and Hemotherapy, Medicine Department, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP/EPM, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribas
authors.forename: Gisele W B
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Colleoni
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone