Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Chemical Inactivation of the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Cereblon by Pomalidomide-based Homo-PROTACs
Published on: May 15, 2019
Long-term outcome in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma treated with thalidomide. Balancing efficacy and
Alessandro Corso1, Patrizia Zappasodi, Luciana Barbarano
1Divisione di Ematologia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Università di Pavia, Pavia, Italy. a.corso@smatteo.pv.it
Abstract:
A total of 303 MM patients were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate long-term efficacy and toxicity of thalidomide alone or in combination with steroids. Overall response rate was 57% (CR/VGPR 12%). Median TTP, PFS and OS were 13.4 months, 20.6 months, and 26.2 months, respectively. PFS and OS were significantly different according to response (p < 0.0001), with better outcome in patients achieving CR/VGPR (PFS and OS 35.4 months and 63 months, respectively). PFS and OS of patients achieving SD or PR were overlapping (p = 0.3). The addition of steroids significantly increased the response rate (p = 0.01). The most clinically relevant complications were neuropathy (40%), constipation (26%), thromboembolic events (7%). Thalidomide was reduced for toxicity in 68 patients (24%) and permanently discontinued in 36 (12%). In conclusion, thalidomide produces high response rate in relapsed/refractory MM. The best outcome is observed in patients with good quality response, but even patients with suboptimal response may obtain durable survival.
Related Concept Videos
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: Affecting Factors
Teratogenicity
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Immunomodulatory Agents
Treatment Resistent Cancers
Treatment Resistant Cancers