Re: Revlimid - may increase risk of new cancer

[Guest guest]

Hi, While concerning, the context here (that I'm aware of)

is use of Lenalidomide following intensive high dose therapy

with SCT ... in the trial described below, the incidence was

15 for Lenalidomide vs. 10 for placebo. Dr. Furman?

....

http://multiplemyelomablog.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-about-new-revlimid-data-sho\

wing.html

or http://tinyurl.com/633vdqx

copying: " He said about 8 percent of multiple myeloma

patients who are alive after two years are at risk of

developing a secondary cancer.

Moreover, if a patient receives a stem cell transplant, or

receives a type of drug known as an alkylator, such as

melphalan, the risk of developing a secondary cancer is

eight times higher than if those elements are not included

in the treatment.

In the trial reported on Sunday, known as CALGB, patients

were either given a high dose of melphalan followed by a

stem cell transplant followed by Revlimid, or were given

melphalan, a stem cell transplant and a placebo. "

==

So keep in mind that if the same study was repeated, the

incidence of second malignancies could be different in the

two arms. The association is a signal to watch for the

possibility of a causal effect, it is not yet risen to the

level of evidence .. and the risk if it exists could be

specific to that circumstance - use of Lenalidomide after

high dose chemotherapy (unless they are seeing this

association in multiple trials)

We'll see. And this is another example of why controlled

study with sufficient follow up is needed to measure both

benefits and risks.

Karl