�Researchers at the Odense University Hospital, Denmark, give found that combining thalidomide with temozolomide may double its effectiveness, over temozolomide alone, for malignant malignant melanoma with brain metastases.
The non-randomised form II trial, published in the on-line journal ecancermedicalscience, investigated the combination of thalidomide and temozolomide. It is the first form II study combining a new cyclic regimen of temozolomide (150mg /m2 everyday, 7 years on 7days off) and thalidomide, for patients with malignant malignant melanoma suffering from brain metastases, to show a meaningful response charge per unit.
Melanoma is the third most coarse cause of metastases in the key nervous organization. Thalidomide is known to prevent young blood vessels growing from pre-existing vessels and thus inhibit tumour growth, and is also known to adjust the body's immune response. Temozolomide is a chemotherapy alkylating agent ordinarily used for primary brain tumours, simply also active in malignant melanoma.
The researchers observed a response rate of 17.5% for temozolomide and thalidomide combined, around doubly the reaction rate of the criterion schedule of temozolomide only (6-9% naturalized in a previous study).
A statistically significant correlation coefficient was establish between efficacy and lymphocytopenia (lowered e. B. White blood cell count).
Lead author Dr Lene Vestermark concluded: "The combination of temozolomide exploitation the dose-intense schedule and thalidomide at 100-200 mg/day is a safe regime leading to clinical efficacy in patients with learning ability metastases from malignant malignant melanoma.
Most importantly it seems that patients who acquire lymphopenia during therapy have a higher chance of obtaining objective response. The potential immunological mechanism behind this volition be the subject of future investigations, focusing on the potential drop benefit of regulatory T Cell down-regulation. The correlation between lymphocytopenia and objective response needs further probe."
Further evaluations using larger patient numbers and including different therapy schedules testament be considered for the future.
Temozolomide also known as Temodal or Thalomid
http://www.ecancermedicalscience.com
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