OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the therapeutic effect and adverse reactions of the maintenance therapies with Thalidomine or Bortezomib in the patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), so as to provide a reference for clinical treatment. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse reaction rate of 23 MM patients received the maintenance therapies of Bortezomib and of 68 MM patients received maintenance therapy of Thalidomine. RESULTS: The maintenance therapy with Bortezomib could extend the PFS of MM patients as compared with Thalidomine (PFS rate of patients on the maintenance therapy of Bortezomib in 12th, and 24th month was 100%, 88.89%, and that of Thalidomine-treated group was 72.31%, 47.54%). What's more, some specific patients could get better 2-year PFS rate in Bortezomib group than that in Thalidomine group, such as older than 65 years old, after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(ASCT), having genetic changes, extramedullary lesions, poor renal function, low serum free light chain ratio, high β2-MG, anemia, high LDH, VGPR of induction and consolidation therapy. The OS rate of Bortezomib on 18th, 24th and 30th month was 100%, 88.89%, 80% verus 91.52%,83.63%,72.90% of the group with thalidemide at the same time. As for 2-year OS rate, the Bortezomib group was higher than Thalidomine without statistical differences. However, the patients such as older than 65 years old, poor renal function and with extramedullary lesions, would also get higher 2-year OS rate from Bortezomi. Bortezomib and thalidomide could cause bone marrow suppression, peripheral neuritis and other adverse reactions. CONCLUSION The efficacy of maintenance therapy with Bortezomib is superior to thalidomide. As a conclusion, bortezomib is a better option for maintenance therapy of MM patient.
Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Boronic Acids ; Bortezomib ; administration & dosage ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Pyrazines ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

The thalidomide tragedy in the 1960s has resulted in a perpetuation of a certain perception amongst physicians and pregnant women that the use of medication during pregnancy is a potential teratogen. Consequently, physicians hesitate in prescribing medication to pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women often refuse medication despite therapeutic necessity because of this existing perception. Recently there have been frequent adverse pregnancy outcomes related to the recurrence of chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, following pregnancy in older women. And there are lots of unnecessary termination of pregnancy due to the of information of medication exposed to medication following over 50% of unintended pregnancy. In light of this, better dissemination of information regarding the safe usage of medication for pregnant women is required. This would not only be cost-effective in terms of medical expenditure, but also prove beneficial for the treatment of diseases. In addition, Korea needs to adapt to the increasing changes of the international information system regarding supporting the safe usage of medication during pregnancy. An example of this is shown by the recent changes to the labeling of medication by the United States Food and Drug Administration. The new labeling includes information on the risk of usage, rather than just an arbitrary alphabetic classification of B, C, D, or X. Furthermore, this information is limited in Korea because of the lack of research, which in turn is due to several limitations on ethics and methodology, as well as present regulations on the research of pregnant women. From this, we can learn that government support is critical for the establishment of research so that we can alter the perception that all medication is harmful to pregnant women.
Chronic Disease ; Classification ; Ethics ; Female ; Health Expenditures ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Information Systems ; Korea ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnant Women* ; Recurrence ; Social Control, Formal ; Thalidomide ; United States Food and Drug Administration

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of low dose thalidomide (TD) combined with modified VCMP (vincristine+cyclophosphamide+melphalan+prednisone) (TD+mVCMP) and VAD (vincristine+doxorubicin+dexamethsone) (TD+VAD) regimens for treating aged patients with MM.

METHODSA total of 47 patients with newly diagnosed MM were enrolled in this study. Among them 27 cases were treated with TD+mVCMP regimen (TD+mVCMP group), 20 cases were treated with TD+VAD regimen (TD+VAD group). The dose of TD in 2 groups all was 100 mg/d. Each patient received 4 or more courses of treatment.

RESULTSOut of 27 cases in TD+mVCMP group, 9 cases achieved complete remission (CR), 5 cases-very good partial remission (VGPR), 6 cases-partial remission (PR); among 20 cases in TD+VAD group, 3 cases achieved CR, 3 cases achieved VGPR, 4 cases achieved PR. The total effective rate in 2 group was 74.1% and 50% respectively, there was statistical difference between 2 groups (P<0.05). The differences of Hb level, plasmocytic ratio of bone marrow and M protein level in 2 groups before and after treatment were significant (P<0.05). The 5 years survival rate of patients in TD+mVCMP and TD+VAD group was 72.8% and 66.9% respectively, there was no statistical difference (P>0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions including caxdiac toxicity, severe leucopenia and thrombocytopenia in TD+mVCMP group was lower than that in TD+VAD group.

CONCLUSIONLow dose TD combined with modified VCMP regimen for treatment of newly diagnosed aged patients with MM is safe and effective, which may be used as the first line treatment regimen for population in aged MM patients.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Melphalan ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Thrombocytopenia ; Vincristine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficacy of regimen consisting of lenalidomide combined with chemotherapy for acute leukemia and its impact on vascular endothilial growth factor (vEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and to analyze the relationship lenalidomide with therapeutic efficacy of leukemia.

METHODSThe patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (except M3) from October 2013 to October 2014 in our hospital were randomly divided into 2 groups: chemotherapy+placebo (CP) group and lenalidomide+chemotherapy (LC) group. In addition, healthy persons were used as healthy controls (HC). The expression of VEGF and bFGF was detected by ELISA, and the therapeutic efficacy for AML patients was analyzed.

RESULTSThe therapeutic efficacy in LC group and CP group was 87.9% and 77.2% respectively. Before treatment, the VEGF level in LC and CP groups was obviously higher than that in HC group; after treatment, the VEGF level significanthy decreased, and the decreased degree in LC group was larger than that in CP group. Before treatment, the bFGF level in LC and CP groups was higher than that in HC group; after treatment, the bFGF level decreased, and decreased degree in LC group was larger than that in CP group.

CONCLUSIONThe lenalidomide combined with chemotherapy can significantly decrease the expression level of VEGF and bFGF, and enhance the remission rate of patients with AML.

Acute Disease ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical efficacy and safety of lenalidomide plus low dose dexamethasone for treating patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSA total of 19 MM patients were enrolled to receive the therapeutic schedule of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone in our hospital from May 2013 to June 2015. Lenalidomide 25 mg was taken orally daily for 21 days and resting for 7 days, and dexamethasone 10 mg was taken orally daily on the day 1-4, 7-10 and 13-16. The regimens were Rd (lenalidomide and dexamethasone, n = 12), and RCd (lenalidomide, ifosfamide and dexamethasone, n = 7).

RESULTSAmong 19 patients received 1 cycle of treatment 3 patients achieved complete remission (CR), 3 patients achieved very good partial remission (VGPR), 10 patients achieved partial remission (PR) and 3 patients in stable disease (SD) with an overall response rate (ORR = CR + VGPR + PR) of 84%; their ORR rate was 89% after 2 cycles of treatment. In the early stage of treatment, the renal function was improved in 4 out of 5 patients with renal dysfunction. And the common adverse reactions were hematologic toxicity in 4 patients, 1 degree rash in 5 patients, and gastrointestinal side effects in 4 patients.

CONCLUSIONThe lenalidomide plus dexamethasone regimen has a good anti-multiple myeloma effect, which can control the disease rapidly and overcome the multidrug resistance in MM, improving the poor prognosis with renal dysfunction, and showing high remission rate in the patients exposed to bortezomib with low toxicity.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Dexamethasone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Ifosfamide ; therapeutic use ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Remission Induction ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; Interleukin-2 ; administration & dosage ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Recurrence ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage

Adult ; Humans ; Interferons ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycosis Fungoides ; drug therapy ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThis study investigates the efficacy and tolerability of capecitabine plus thalidomide in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who previously underwent gemcitabine-based therapy.

METHODSSixty-one patients with unresectable or metastatic PC who had progressed on single-agent Gem or a Gem-containing regimen were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group (31 patients) was treated with capecitabine alone, and another group was treated with capecitabine plus thalidomide. Capecitabine was administered orally twice a day at a dose of 1, 250 mg/m(2) for 14-day followed by 7-day rest and oral thalidomide 100 mg was given daily without interruption until disease progression or occurrence of unacceptable toxicity.

RESULTSThe PFS was 2.8 months (95%CI 2.4 - 3.2) vs. 3.1 months (95%CI 2.6-3.6, P < 0.05) and the OS was 6.1 months (95%CI 5.3 - 6.9) vs. 6.3 months (95%CI 5.2 - 7.4, P = 0.426). In the capecitabine alone group, one patient experienced a partial response (PR), 10 patients showed stable disease (SD) and 20 patients had progressive disease (PD). The another group, two patients experienced a partial response (PR), 11 patients SD, and 17 patients PD. The disease control rates were 35.5% and 43.3%, respectively. The major adverse reaction in the two groups was grade 3 diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONCapecitabine plus thalidomide regimen is marginally effective and well tolerated in the second-line setting in patients with gemcitabine-refractory advanced pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; chemically induced ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Remission Induction ; Survival Rate ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Synergism ; Flavanones ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; pathology ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology

Administration, Oral ; Adolescent ; Female ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell ; complications ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Prednisone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Ulcer ; drug therapy ; etiology ; pathology ; Thalidomide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome