Therapy with thalidomide in refractory multiple myeloma patients - the revival of an old drug

We have treated 17 refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma patients resista nt to chemotherapy with thalidomide at a dose of 200-800 mg/day. Eleven pat ients responded, five of whom had a very good partial response (> 75% decli ne in M protein) and another five exhibited a partial response (> 50% decli ne in M protein). Except for one patient, treatment was well tolerated with only mild side-effects. Thalidomide should be included in the therapeutic options for refractory myeloma.