title: Thalidomide for patients with recurrent lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalidomide has significant clinical activity in patients with multiple myeloma. However, its activity against other lymphoid tumors is unknown. The authors reported their experience with thalidomide in patients with recurrent/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and in patients with Hodgkin disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients (median age, 62 years) who had undergone a median of 5 previous treatment regimens were treated with escalating doses of thalidomide (200-800 mg per day) until disease progression or prohibitive toxicity was observed. The authors measured serum levels of angiogenesis factors before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient (5%) with evidence of recurrent gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma achieved a complete response, and 3 patients (16%) achieved stable disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study suggests that thalidomide has limited single-agent activity in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent or refractory lymphoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. bpro@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pro
authors.forename: Anas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.forename: Maher
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albitar
authors.forename: Nam H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Samaniego
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romaguera
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Fredrick B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hagemeister
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Clemons
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cabanillas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D016207:Cytokines; D013792:Thalidomide