Download Thalidomide is inactive in heavily pretreated patients with metastatic

Talidomida é ineficaz no câncer de mama refratário à quimioterapia múltipla
Thalidomide is inactive in heavily pretreated patients with
metastatic breast cancer.
Morabito A1, Carillio G, Longo R, Gasparini G.
Cancer J. 2005 May-Jun;11(3):248-51.
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1
Division of Medical Oncology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Abstract
Experimental studies have demonstrated that thalidomide has anti-tumor activity mediated by
blockage of angiogenesis, with clinical efficacy in multiple myeloma, glioblastoma multiforme,
and renal cell cancer. We investigated the therapeutic activity and toxicity of thalidomide in
patients with progressive metastatic breast cancer pretreated with chemotherapy. Inclusion
criteria were metastatic breast cancer in progression of disease after at least two lines of
chemotherapy, age > or = 18 years, performance status < or = 2, and adequate hematologic,
renal, and hepatic functions. Twelve patients entered the study, eight of whom were pretreated
with three or more lines of chemotherapy (66.7%). Thalidomide was well tolerated: the most
common side effects were constipation and somnolence (58.3% of patients). No objective
response or durable stable disease was observed. Median time to progression and median
overall survival were 8 weeks (range, 4-10 weeks) and 16 weeks (range, 8-54 weeks),
respectively. In conclusion, thalidomide is an ineffective treatment in patients with progressive
metastatic breast cancer heavily pretreated with chemotherapy.
PMID:16053669