Therapeutic effects of thalidomide in hematologic disorders: a review

Abstract

The extensive autoimmune, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer applications of thalidomide have inspired a growing number of studies and clinical trials. As an inexpensive agent with relatively low toxicity, thalidomide is regarded as a promising therapeutic candidate, especially for malignant diseases. We review its therapeutic effects in hematology, including those on multiple myeloma, Waldenstroem macroglobulinemia, lymphoma, mantle-cell lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, and graft-versus-host disease. Most studies have shown satisfactory results, although several have reported the opposite. Aside from optimal outcomes, the toxicities and adverse effects of thalidomide should also be examined. The current work includes a discussion of the mechanisms through which the novel biological effects of thalidomide occur, although more studies should be devoted to this aspect. With appropriate safeguards, thalidomide may benefit patients suffering from a broad variety of disorders, particularly refractory and resistant diseases.

Keywords

thalidomide / multiple myeloma / lymphoma

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81070411) and the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (Grant No. 81125002).

Compliance with ethics guidelines

The authors, Miao Xu, Yu Hou, Lei Sheng, Jun Peng declare no confiict of interest. This manuscript is a review article and does not involve a research protocol requiring approval by the relevant institutional review board or ethics committee.

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2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg