title: An update on the use of lenalidomide for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lenalidomide , an immunomodulatory agent with unique mechanism of action, represents the cornerstone in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) providing rapid and sustained control of the disease with a manageable safety profile.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review article, synthesizing all available data coming from trials and evaluating the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide in patients with MM, tries to provide to the clinicians with an easy-to-grasp synopsis of recent and clinically meaningful advances on the field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lenalidomide combined with dexamethasone is a safe and effective option for newly diagnosed MM patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Long-term administration of the agent as continuous treatment for ineligible for ASCT patients or maintenance therapy after ASCT has documented unprecedented progression-free survival improvements, whereas lenalidomide in combination with dexamethasone has shown deep and durable remissions for patients with relapsed and/or refractory disease.
authors.affiliation: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Therapeutics , 80 Vas. Sofias Ave, Athens 11528 , Greece +302 103 381 541 ; +302 132 162 511 ; mdimop@med.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terpos
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kastritis
authors.forename: Meletios-Athanasios
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Dimopoulos
mesh_terms: D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013792:Thalidomide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000077269:Lenalidomide
keywords: immunomodulatory; lenalidomide; multiple myeloma; therapy