Role of thalidomide in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma

• Published in: Expert review of anticancer therapy Vol. 8; no. 10; pp. 1569 - 1580
• Main Authors: Musto, Pellegrino, D Auria, Fiorella, Pietrantuono, Giuseppe, Bringhen, Sara, Morabito, Fortunato, Di Raimondo, Francesco, Pozzi, Samantha, Sacchi, Stefano, Boccadoro, Mario, Palumbo, Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Informa Healthcare 01.10.2008; Taylor & Francis; Expert Reviews Ltd
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Agents - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; bortezomib; Cancer; Care and treatment; Clinical Trials as Topic; cyclophosphamide; dexamethasone; Dexamethasone - administration & dosage; Dexamethasone - therapeutic use; Dosage and administration; doxorubicin; Drug Synergism; Drug therapy; Drug Therapy, Combination; first-line therapy; Humans; lenalidomide; melphalan; Melphalan - administration & dosage; Melphalan - therapeutic use; Multiple myeloma; Multiple Myeloma - drug therapy; myeloma; peripheral neuropathy; Thalidomide; Thalidomide - administration & dosage; Thalidomide - therapeutic use; thrombosis; Italy
• ISSN: 1473-7140; 1744-8328
• DOI: 10.1586/14737140.8.10.1569

Thalidomide represents one of the most relevant therapeutic advances for patients with multiple myeloma over the last 10 years. Despite some toxicities, it has demonstrated significant efficacy in elderly patients, as well as in the setting of younger subjects receiving autologous stem cell transplantation. Here, we report and discuss the clinical results achieved with thalidomide alone or in combination with dexamethasone or other drugs, such as melphalan, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and bortezomib, in previously untreated myeloma patients.