title: Expanding role of lenalidomide in hematologic malignancies.
abstract: Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent that has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of multiple myeloma, deletion 5q myelodysplastic syndrome, and mantle cell lymphoma. In addition, it has clinical activity in lymphoproliferative disorders and acute myeloid leukemia. The mode of action includes immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiangiogenic, and antiproliferative mechanisms. The antitumor effect is a result of direct interference of key pathways in tumor cells and indirect modulation of the tumor microenvironment. There has been no recent collective review on lenalidomide in multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia, and lymphoma. This review summarizes the results of current clinical studies of lenalidomide, alone and in combination with other agents, as a therapeutic option for various hematologic malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Nilanjan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Grunwald
authors.affiliation: Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Omotayo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Fasan
authors.affiliation: Levine Cancer Institute, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Manisha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhutani
keywords: IMiD; MDS; leukemia; lymphoma; myeloma