title: Combination of erythropoietin and thalidomide for the treatment of anemia in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: We investigated the therapeutic activity of recombinant erythropoietin (r-EPO) in association with thalidomide in 30 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), previously treated with r-EPO (n.15, group A) or thalidomide (n.15, group B) as single agents, respectively, without any significant benefit on their anemia. Four patients of group A and three of group B (23.3%) achieved an erythroid response, according to International Working Group (IWG) criteria. After 12 weeks, responders of group A continued with thalidomide alone, those of group B with r-EPO alone. All responses were maintained, thus suggesting they were likely due to the second drug adjuncted (thalidomide for group A and r-EPO for group B), rather than to a combined effect. Our results do not support the hypothesis of a synergistic activity for the association of r-EPO and thalidomide on anemia of MDS. It seems, instead, that two populations of patients can be identified, according to their sensitivity to r-EPO or, alternatively, to thalidomide.
authors.affiliation: Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, I-71013, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy. p.musto@tin.it
authors.forename: Pellegrino
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Musto
authors.forename: Antonietta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sanpaolo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bodenizza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004921:Erythropoietin; D013792:Thalidomide