A review of the history, properties, and use of the immunomodulatory compound lenalidomide

• Published in: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences Vol. 1222; no. 1; pp. 76 - 82
• Main Authors: Zeldis, Jerome B., Knight, Robert, Hussein, Mohamad, Chopra, Rajesh, Muller, George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.03.2011; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Cancer; Drug Discovery - history; Drug Discovery - trends; Hematology; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; Humans; IMiD; Immunologic Factors - adverse effects; Immunologic Factors - chemical synthesis; Immunologic Factors - pharmacology; Immunologic Factors - therapeutic use; immunomodulatory; lenalidomide; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Models, Biological; Multiple myeloma; myelodysplastic syndromes; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - immunology; REVLIMID; Thalidomide - adverse effects; Thalidomide - analogs & derivatives; Thalidomide - chemical synthesis; Thalidomide - pharmacology; Thalidomide - therapeutic use; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0077-8923; 1749-6632
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.05974.x

Lenalidomide (REVLIMID™), an immunomodulatory compound targeting both cancer cells and their microenvironment, has substantial activity in several difficult‐to‐manage hematological malignancies. In previously treated multiple myeloma, lenalidomide produces high‐quality responses combined with sustained disease control. Recently, several randomized studies have demonstrated a clinical benefit of continuous lenalidomide treatment in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. In many patients with refractory anemia associated with lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes and a 5q chromosome deletion, lenalidomide leads to transfusion independence, considerably improving quality of life. It has a manageable safety profile, and its oral formulation reduces the burden on patients. Several phase III trials are ongoing in other indications currently underserved by conventional therapy, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, and prostate cancer. Several early‐stage studies are exploring lenalidomide alone and in combination across different hematological malignancies, solid tumors, and immune‐related disorders.