[Lenalidomide in hematological malignancies---review]

Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic drug that is a structural analog of thalidomide. Studies showed that lenalidomide may work through various mechanisms in hematologic malignancies. These mechanisms involved direct cytotoxicity as well as through indirect effects on tumor immunity etc. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes, and proved to have a good efficacy. Recent studies demonstrate that oral lenalidomide alone produces durable responses with manageable adverse events in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and older patients with acute myeloid leukemia etc, warranting further investigation of treatment for these patients. This review focuses the related studies and the latest progression about lenalidomide in hematological malignancies in order to provide some references and help to the use of lenalidomide for the treatment of hematological malignancies.