Thalidomide Interferons

Tacrolimus, sirolimus, antimetabolites e.g. methotrexate, antihistaminics for pruritus dermatitis, prednicarbate (DERMATOP), becaplermin, dapsone, thalidomide, cyclosporine, interferon... 

In 13 patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, the combination of interferon alfa-2a (27 MU/week) and thalidomide produced severe neurological toxicity in four patients, an incidence that was considered to be far greater than would be expected with either drug alone (417). 

Nathan FD, Gore ME, Eisen TG. Unexpected toxicity of combination thalidomide and interferon alpha-2a treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 2002 20(5) 1429-30. 

Single or multiple lesions of erythema nodosum lepro-sum occurred in 60% of patients given intradermal interferon gamma for lepromatous leprosy, and severe systemic symptoms required thalidomide treatment in two patients (18). 

In contrast to the variably invasive loco-regional ablative therapies, there are no valid data on systemic hormonal, chemotherapeutic, antiangiogenic, or receptor-directed therapies with 5 -fluorouracil, doxorubicin, epirubicin, etoposide, cisplatin, and mito-xantrone, or with interferon, tamoxifen, capecitabine, thalidomide, and octreotide, in terms of their ability to improve patient survival or life quality in early or advanced HCC (Aguayo and Patt 2001). 

Monoclonal antibody therapy rituximab, alemtuzumab Non-specific immunotherapies and adjuvants BCG, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-a Immunomodulating drugs thalidomide and lenalidomide Cancer vaccines vaccine for advanced prostate cancer Side effects Flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, nausea, and loss of appetite, allergic reactions, fatigue decrease in blood pressure Work better for some types of cancer than for others... 

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