Thalidomide is highly effective in a patient with meningeal acute myeloid leukaemia.
We report a case of secondary acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) following high dose therapy for diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) who developed meningeal leukaemia. This was refractory to systemic and intrathecal chemotherapy and cranial irradiation. Thalidomide has been reported to have anti-AML activity and appears to cross the blood brain barrier (BBB). We, therefore, attempted a trial of oral Thalidomide and achieved rapid biochemical and cytological remission with a short course. The patient, however, progressed systemically and succumbed to her illness.
Baird
Richard
R
Cancer Research UK Centre for Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Cancer Research, 15 Cotswold Road, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, UK.
van Zyl-Smit
Richard Nellis
RN
Iveson
Anne
A
Duddy
James
J
Rassam
Saad M B
SM
D000328:Adult; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008577:Meningeal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013792:Thalidomide