Patients with multiple myeloma treated with thalidomide: Evaluation of clinical parameters, cytokines, angiogenic markers, mast cells and marrow CD57 cytotoxic T cells as predictors of outcome

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In vitro studies suggest that thalidomide has an immunoregulatory role and alters the marrow microenvironment. We assessed laboratory and clinical parameters in patients with myeloma treated with thalidomide as potential prognostic markers and looked for changes with therapy. Design and Methods: Seventy-five patients with relapsed/refractory myeloma received thalidomide in a phase II trial. Serial samples of platelet-poor plasma and bone marrow were tested for angiogenic cytokines including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), marrow microvessel-density (MVD), mast cells and CD57+ cell expression. The effects of these parameters on response rate (RR), progres..