title: Low-dose thalidomide plus monthly high-dose oral dexamethasone (Thali-Dexa): results, prognostic factors and side effects in eight patients previously treated with multiple myeloma.
abstract: Thalidomide is active both as single agent and in combination-therapy against refractory or relapsing multiple myeloma. Eigth patients previously treated were given Thalidomide 100mg/daily plus Dexametasone 40mg/daily for four days each month (Thali-Dexa) and followed for response, prognostic factors and side effects. Two patients had early death (one from massive cerebral ischemic stroke, the other from dementia and progressive renal failure), one patient progressed during Thali-Dexa (thalidomide 200mg) and was rescued with chemotherapy, two patients required increasing thalidomide dosage (to 200 and 400mg, respectively) because of progressive disease, three patients had stable disease remission lasting from 4m+ to 16m+. Thali-Dexa is a useful agent but age and vascular/metabolic diseases may increase the risk of severe side effects. Early decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate seems to correlate with better disease control.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, S.Giuseppe General Hospital, Empoli, Italy. oncologiaempoli@usl11.toscana.it
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bemardeschi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dentico
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giustarini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turano
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D000077268:Pamidronate; D011379:Prognosis; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000077268:Pamidronate