Response of plasmacytomas to low-dose thalidomide in a patient with refractory multiple myeloma

A case of extramedullary plasmablastic plasmacytoma successfully treated using a combination of thalidomide and dexamethasone and a review of the medical literature

A 56-year-old man developed epistaxis, hoarseness, and swelling of a finger in March 2010. On the basis of biopsies of the masses in the pharynx and finger, he was diagnosed with extramedullary plasmablastic plasmacytoma, with somewhat immature CD45(+), MPC-1(-), and CD49e(-). CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) and VCAP (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone) therapy was ineffective, but combination therapy with thalidomide and dexamethasone was highly effective. Thalidomide monotherapy successfully maintained partial remission for approximately 7 months. A mass appeared in the right neck in February 2011, and a biopsy confirmed recurrence. Changes to CD45 negativity and MPC-1 partial positivity were seen, while CD49e negativity persisted, suggesting that the plasmablastic plasmacytoma had reverted to a more immature state. Bortezomib therapy was started in March 2011 and was effective. However, during the second round of treatment, the patient developed acute lung injury, which was improved by steroid pulse therapy. After the discontinuation of bortezomib, the extramedullary mass increased rapidly, and the patient died of multiple organ failure. An autopsy showed that plasmablastic plasmacytomas had infiltrated into multiple organs. Extramedullary plasmacytomas and those that revert to an immature state are associated with a poor prognosis, so further treatment improvements are needed in the future.

Successful treatment of extramedullary tumors with low-dose thalidomide in patients with multiple myeloma

Extramedullary tumor (EMT) is a poor prognostic factor of multiple myeloma (MM). The majority of patients report poor efficacy of thalidomide in MM with EMT, and bortezomib is the preferred choice of treatment. We report two cases of MM with EMTs in which thalidomide was highly beneficial. Case 1 has been in remission for ten months with 100 mg every other day of thalidomide monotherapy, which is the lowest dose to be reported in a successfully treated case of MM with EMT. Case 2 eventually became refractory, but low dose thalidomide gave excellent disease control over a period of eleven weeks, despite the EMT being in a highly aggravated state. Some reports have speculated that EMT cases with preceding bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are an exception and have a good response to thalidomide, but the present two cases have no history of BMT. In conclusion, low dose thalidomide can be effective in MM with EMT and should be considered as a treatment option, especially in the elderly.

Thalidomide in multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is an incurable bone marrow cancer, the treatment of which is notoriously difficult. Only modest advances have been achieved using complex polychemotherapeutic regimens, transplant strategies and supportive therapy. In 1999, when new drugs for myeloma were urgently needed, thalidomide was introduced and opened up a completely new line of therapy for the disease. Although the mechanism of action is not yet completely understood, thalidomide has demonstrated efficacy in patients with refractory, relapsed myeloma, even in late-stage cases. This article reviews the current knowledge of thalidomide in myeloma treatment, focusing especially on the possible mechanisms of action, clinical results and adverse events of this drug.