title: A combination of thalidomide and arsenic trioxide is effective and well tolerated in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
abstract: Twenty-two patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) were treated with thalidomide plus arsenic trioxide (ATO). Twenty-two MDS patients receiving supportive care were used as controls. The remission was achieved in 4 patients (18.2%) receiving thalidomide/ATO, and none in the control group (p<0.05). Fifteen of 22 patients in the treatment group achieved hematologic improvement (68.2% vs. 27.3% in the control, p<0.05). The progression-free survival was longer in the treatment group than that in the control (26 vs. 10 months, p<0.05). The overall survival was also longer in the treatment group than that in the control (36 vs. 16 months, p<0.05). No severe adverse reactions were observed. These preliminary findings suggest that thalidomide/ATO combination treatment is effective and safe for MDS.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Zhabei District Central Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yizi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lieping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Haotian
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide; D001152:Arsenicals / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010087:Oxides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D010087:Oxides; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077237:Arsenic Trioxide