Thalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Thalidomide--either alone or in combination with dexamethasone or chemotherapy--has shown significant activity in relapsed/refractory disease. When used in the induction regimens in untreated patients, it significantly increases the response rates as well progression-free survival. Moreover, thalidomide as a maintenance therapy has become a very attractive option. However, the toxicity profile of the drug, mainly neurotoxicity and thrombotic events, mandate careful monitoring of patients treated with thalidomide, whether as the first line, in the relapsed setting, or as maintenance. In this chapter we will review the pharmacology, mechanisms of action, and toxicity of the drug, and will focus on available data from clinical experience and randomized trials of thalidomide in the different settings of multiple myeloma: refractory/relapsed disease, upfront treatment in patients who are eligible for high-dose therapy as well as those who are not, and finally the use of thalidomide as a maintenance treatment.
Kastritis
Efstathios
E
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens 115 28, Greece.
Dimopoulos
Meletios A
MA
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone