[The use of lenalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma]

Lenalidomide is a promising new drug in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma. The analogue of thalidomide was created with the intention of improving the anticancer activity, its immunomodulatory properties as well as reducing the toxicity of the preparation. The mechanism of antitumor action of the preparation appears to be the effect on cells, tumour microenvironment and in particular the regulation of cytokinine production. Performed clinical studies Phase I and II have shown efficacy in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Subsequently, large randomized trials demonstrated the benefit of combined therapy in relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma patients with a combination of lenalidomide plus dexamethasone compared with dexamethasone treatment alone. Patients treated with a combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone had significantly higher therapeutic response and overall survival than patients treated with dexamethasone alone. Profound toxicity seems to be the myelosuppressive effect of lenalidomide. The work gives a summary of the information available on lenalidomide in the treatment of multiple myeloma.