title: Thalidomide prolongs disease stabilization after conventional therapy in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
abstract: Thalidomide shows antiangiogenic activity and it has been successfully employed in various tumors. Considering the poor therapeutic options for glioblastoma and the role of angiogenesis in malignant glioma cells growth, we investigated the therapeutic activity of thalidomide in patients affected by recurrent glioblastoma. Inclusion criteria were: recurrent glioblastoma pretreated with surgery and radiotherapy, age >/=18 years, adequate performance status, hematological, renal, and hepatic functions. Exclusion criteria included severe underlying diseases, neuropathy or concurrent radiotherapy. Eighteen patients entered the study, 17 of whom were assessable for toxicity and response. Most of patients were pretreated with chemotherapy (77.8%). Thalidomide was well tolerated: the most common side effects were constipation (76.5% of patients), somnolence (47%), and peripheral neuropathy (11.8%). One minimal response (MR) and 8 stable disease (SD) were observed, with an overall clinical benefit of 52.9%. Median time to progression and median overall survival (OS) for responders was 25 weeks (range 12-40) and 36 weeks (range 16-64), respectively. In conclusion, thalidomide induces modest side effects and it may be considered a valid therapeutic option for patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, 'San Filippo Neri' Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fanelli
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carillio
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gattuso
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sarmiento
authors.forename: Giampietro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gasparini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003248:Constipation / Q000139:chemically induced; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide