Thalidomide for Advanced Renal Cell Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Stebbing J, Benson C, Eisen T, Pyle L, Smalley K, Bridle H, Mak I, Sapunar F, Ahern R, Gore M E
Primary Institution: The Royal Marsden Hospital
Hypothesis
Can high-dose oral thalidomide effectively treat advanced renal cell carcinoma?
Conclusion
High-dose oral thalidomide showed limited effectiveness in treating advanced renal cell carcinoma, with some patients experiencing stable disease.
Supporting Evidence
- 25 patients with advanced renal carcinoma were treated with thalidomide.
- 2 patients showed partial responses, while 7 had stable disease for more than 6 months.
- A significant decrease in serum TNF-α levels was observed in patients with stable disease or an objective response.
Takeaway
Doctors tested a medicine called thalidomide on men with kidney cancer to see if it could help them feel better, but it only worked a little for some.
Methodology
25 men with advanced renal carcinoma received escalating doses of thalidomide up to 600 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and limited effectiveness.
Participant Demographics
All participants were men with a median age of 51 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 1–29 for partial responses; 95% CI: 14–55 for stable disease > 6 months; 95% CI: 8–45 for stable disease 3-6 months.
Statistical Significance
p=0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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