title: Intermediate dose thalidomide (200 mg daily) has comparable efficacy and less toxicity than higher doses in relapsed multiple myeloma.
abstract: Thalidomide at doses >200 mg has 100% grade 1-2 and 25% grade 3-4 toxicities requiring discontinuation. We report a retrospective study of relapsed myeloma patients treated with thalidomide 200 mg with no dose escalation. Thirty patients were identified; 43% of patients responded with paraprotein decline >75% -- 2 (6%), 50-75% -- 7 (23%), 25-50% -- 4 (14%) and 2 (6%) were stable. All five patients with 13q deletion responded. Only 54% reported grade 1-2 toxicities (none reporting > grade 2) with 5 (17%) discontinuing treatment due to toxicity. Thalidomide 200 mg daily with no dose escalation appears as effective and better tolerated than escalated doses for relapsed myeloma patients.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Hematology/Oncology, University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Ont., Canada. ashutoshw@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Wechalekar
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Reece
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Voralia
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide