02131nas a2200385   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002800058653002900086653002600115653003900141653001700180653003300197653001900230653003000249653001100279653001900290653002900309653001400338653001600352653002200368653003900390653001700429653001500446653001600461653001700477653002200494100001700516700003100533245008800564300001100652490000800663520106000671022001401731       2004                            d  c2004 Oct 0110aAngiogenesis Inhibitors10aAnti-Inflammatory Agents10aAntineoplastic Agents10aClinical Trials, Phase II as Topic10aConstipation10aDrug Administration Schedule10aDrug Eruptions10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aHumans10aHypothyroidism10aImmunosuppressive Agents10aNeoplasms10aNeutropenia10aPatient Selection10aPeripheral Nervous System Diseases10aSleep Stages10aTeratogens10aThalidomide10aTime Factors10aVenous Thrombosis1 aDimopoulos M1 aEleutherakis-Papaiakovou V00aAdverse effects of thalidomide administration in patients with neoplastic diseases.  a508-150 v1173 a<p>Thalidomide, a glutamic acid derivative, was withdrawn from clinical use in 1962 due to its severe teratogenic effects. Its recent reinstitution in clinical practice was related to its benefits in leprosy and multiple myeloma. Moreover, the antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory properties of thalidomide have led to its evaluation in several malignant diseases, including myelofibrosis, renal cell cancer, prostate cancer, and Kaposi sarcoma. However, thalidomide use is associated with several side effects: somnolence and constipation are the most common, while deep vein thrombosis and peripheral neuropathy are the most serious. A combination of thalidomide with steroids or chemotherapy is being evaluated in several phase 2 studies. While it is not yet clear whether these combinations will enhance efficacy, they appear to increase the toxicity of thalidomide, and thalidomide analogs are being developed to minimize this toxicity. Ongoing studies will clarify the potential advantages of these agents in the treatment of neoplastic diseases.</p>  a0002-9343