�Researchers at the Odense University Hospital, Denmark, have found that combining thalidomide with temozolomide may duple its effectuality, over temozolomide alone, for malignant melanoma with brain metastases.
The non-randomised phase II test, published in the on-line journal ecancermedicalscience, investigated the combination of thalidomide and temozolomide. It is the first phase II survey combining a new cyclic regimen of temozolomide (150mg /m2 casual, 7 years on 7days off) and thalidomide, for patients with malignant melanoma suffering from brain metastases, to show a meaningful response pace.
Melanoma is the third most common cause of metastases in the primal nervous system. Thalidomide is known to prevent new blood vessels growing from pre-existing vessels and thus inhibit neoplasm growth, and is besides known to adjust the body's immune response. Temozolomide is a chemotherapy alkylating agent ordinarily used for primary brainiac tumours, only also alive in melanoma.
The researchers observed a response charge per unit of 17.5% for temozolomide and thalidomide combined, around double the response rate of the standard schedule of temozolomide alone (6-9% naturalized in a previous study).
A statistically significant correlation was found between efficaciousness and lymphopenia (lowered white blood cell count).
Lead author Dr Lene Vestermark concluded: "The combination of temozolomide using the dose-intense schedule and thalidomide at 100-200 mg/day is a safe regimen leading to clinical efficacy in patients with brain metastases from malignant malignant melanoma.
Most importantly it seems that patients who develop lymphopenia during therapy make a higher chance of obtaining objective response. The potential immunological mechanism behind this will be the subject of future investigations, focusing on the potential difference benefit of regulatory T Cell down-regulation. The correlation between lymphocytopenia and documentary response necessarily further investigation."
Further evaluations using larger patient numbers racket and including different therapy schedules will be considered for the future.
Temozolomide also known as Temodal or Thalomid
http://www.ecancermedicalscience.com
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