title: Thalidomide Combined with Chemotherapy in Treating Patients with Advanced Colorectal Cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the safety and effectiveness of thalidomide (produced by CHANGZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY CO.LTD) combined with chemotherapy in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive cohort of pretreated patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with thalidomide combined with chemotherapy. And chemotherapy for patients with advanced colorectal cancer were administered according to the condition of patients. Thalidomide was orally administered at a dosage of 50mg/day to 150 mg/day before sleeping for at least 14 days. After at least 14 days of treatment, safety and side effects were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 12 female and 3 male patients with advanced cancer recruited into this study, including 9 patients with colon, 6 patients with rectal cancer. The median age of patients was 57(41- 82) years. Partial response was observed in 2 patients (2/15), and stable disease in 3 patients(3/15). Incidences of Grade 1 to 2 myelosuppression was observed in 1/15 patients, and Grade 1 to 2 elevation of hepatic enzyme was recorded in 1/15 patients. Adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract were documented in 1/15 patients, and were Grade 1. No Grade 3-4 toxicities were diagnosed. No treatment related death was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thalidomide combined with chemotherapy was safe and mildly effective in treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer. However, further study should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of this combination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemotherapy, the Affiliated Jiangsu Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China E-mail : huangxinen06@163.com.
authors.forename: Xin-En
authors.initials: XE
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhu-Qing
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Meng-Yan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Han-Gang
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Li-Chun
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D013792:Thalidomide