Lenalidomide in Patients with Multiple Myeloma who have Received One Prior Therapy.

Lenalidomide, an IMiD® immunomodulatory drug, has been shown to enhance N K and T-cell function as well as to result in direct tumoricidal effects on multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines. Lenalidomide is more potent yet has differential toxicities than the parent compound thalidomide. Two pivotal studies by Weber, et al, and Dimopoulos, et al, have demonstrated clinically significant long-term benefits in patients with relapsed/refractory MM, including overall response rate, progression-free survival, and survival of the combination of lenalidomide and dexamethasone compared with dexamethasone alone. In addition, lenalidomide has been extensively evaluated in combination with other agents and in the newly diagnosed setting for MM with demonstrable activity. In this paper, we review the preclinical and clinical data underlying its use in patients with MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]