title: Lenalidomide in multiple myeloma.
abstract: Current therapies for multiple myeloma include steroids, alkylating agents and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant. These approaches are typically associated with initially good response rates, but they ultimately fail as a result of disease progression. New therapies that overcome resistance, lower toxicity and maintain remission are needed. Recent advances in the treatment of multiple myeloma include bortezomib and thalidomide. Lenalidomide (Revlimid) is an immunomodulatory drug that has undergone rapid clinical development in multiple myeloma and was recently approved by the US FDA for use in patients with relapsed disease. Clinical trials demonstrate that lenalidomide, particularly in combination with dexamethasone, produces durable clinical responses in patients with relapsed and refractory disease and is generally well tolerated, with manageable toxicities. This review summarizes the profile of lenalidomide and the current evidence for its efficacy in multiple myeloma.
authors.affiliation: Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Divison of Hematologic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. paul_richardson@dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitsiades
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hideshima
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012449:Safety; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide