title: Thalidomide: features and potential significance in oral precancerous conditions and oral cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thalidomide was originally marked as a sedative and anti-emetic, but was withdrawn after severe teratogenic effects had been discovered. More recently it has been claimed to alleviate a wide range of inflammatory disorders and malignancies. Studies showed that thalidomide might play a role in the management of some oral premalignant conditions and its potential to be an adjunct in the prevention of oral cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to summarize the characteristics and feasibility of thalidomide in the development and prevention of oral precancerosis, and to draw attentions of researchers to its therapeutic potential in oral cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Databases were searched on the basis of PubMed and EMbase. Thalidomide associated with the oral lichen planus, chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (CDLE) and oral cancer were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have summed up the structure and pharmacokinetics of thalidomide, possible role of thalidomide in cancer prevention, as well as the recent data concerning its effects in prevention of oral premalignant conditions and potential for the treatment of oral cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Therapeutic effects of thalidomide in oral lichen planus and CDLE have been discussed by clinical trials. And increasing evidences from in vitro and in vivo experiments show that thalidomide is a promising anticancerous agent for oral cancer, which should be paid attention to. It is necessary to perform more studies and clinical trials of large sample size to clarify underlying mechanisms and demonstrate the potential roles of thalidomide in clinical routine management of oral diseases.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Shujing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Dongliang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Mingjing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Haiyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Qianming
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide