title: Lenalidomide in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  insights into the role of the tumor microenvironment and of immune dysfunction in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) have opened the way for further augmenting the therapeutic armamentarium for CLL patients. In this respect, lenalidomide represents an exciting drug since it is able to eliminate CLL cells without immunosuppression.
  
  
  METHODS
  mechanism of action and clinical trials of lenalidomide in CLL, and suggestions for its future utilization are reviewed. The most relevant papers and the meeting abstracts published up to July 2010 were used as sources for this review. This review will help readers understand the mechanism of action of lenalidomide and will provide a comprehensive summary regarding efficacy and safety of this drug in CLL patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  lenalidomide shows good activity against CLL. However, the toxicity profile is significant and can result in serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Definitive data from ongoing trials will aid better definition of its status in CLL therapy. Moreover, clarification of the exact mechanism(s) of action in CLL will allow more precise use of lenalidomide and design of more efficacious combination therapies.
authors.affiliation: Unità Operativa Complessa di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Oncoematologia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Cosenza, Viale della Repubblica, 87100 Cosenza, Italy. massim.gentile@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Anna Grazia
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Recchia
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vigna
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lucia
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gigliotti
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bossio
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madeo
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Morabito
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Servillo
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franzese
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bisconte
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.forename: Fortunato
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Morabito
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007154:Immune System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide