[mikeb]

Re: Side effects of Revlimid as maintenance drug

by mikeb on Wed Feb 18, 2015 12:40 pm

Thanks, Multibilly, for the information about thalidomide.

It's been a few years since I read the book, but I remember "Cancer: The Emperor of All Maladies" included a riveting description of how thalidomide evolved from being a drug pariah, because of the birth defects it caused in the 1960's, to an anti-cancer agent.

And, of course, the concern about birth defects applies to Revlimid, as well.

Thanks also for the link to Dr. Kyle and Dr. Rajkumar's history of multiple myeloma. That's been on my "To Read" list for awhile. I need to bump it up higher.

Mike

[Multibilly]

Re: Side effects of Revlimid as maintenance drug

by Multibilly on Wed Feb 18, 2015 1:08 pm

Yeah, I still have memories of when I was 6 or 7 years old of leafing through Life and other magazines with pictures of thalidomide babies (my parents never censored the kid's reading material in our house). It was one of those things that was both perversely fascinating and horrifying to a little kid. It really is remarkable that it evolved into a foundational drug for treating multiple myeloma.

[antelope1225]

Re: Side effects of Revlimid as maintenance drug

by antelope1225 on Sun Feb 22, 2015 8:35 pm

You know, Multibilly, I think the same property that caused birth defects is the property that causes it to work with multiple myeloma - that property of anti-angiogensis prevents normal development of a fetus' hands.

Thank you for the link to the history of multiple myeloma! I have not yet read it, but will read it as soon as I write to you.

One book that I found fascinating was "Tripping over the Truth" by Travis Christofferson - copyright 2014. It is a history of 100 years of cancer research. It is written very well - so well that you get involved in the story of each research scientist and are amazed at each discovery about cancer.

Thanks,

Cathy