Title:Thalidomide–A Notorious Sedative to a Wonder Anticancer Drug
VOLUME: 20 ISSUE: 33
Author(s):Shuang Zhou, Fengfei Wang, Tze-Chen Hsieh, Joseph M. Wu and Erxi Wu
Affiliation:Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, 203 Sudro Hall, NDSU Dept 2665, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050.
Keywords:Thalidomide, teratogenesis, angiogenesis, cancer, multiple myeloma.
Abstract:In the past 50 years, thalidomide has undergone a remarkable metamorphosis from a notorious drug inducing
birth defects into a highly effective therapy for treating leprosy and multiple myeloma. Today, most notably, thalidomide
and its analogs have shown efficacy against a wide variety of diseases, including inflammation and cancer. The mechanism
underlying its teratogenicity as well as its anticancer activities has been intensively studied. This review summarizes
the biological effects and therapeutic uses of thalidomide and its analogs, and the underlying mechanisms of thalidomide’s
action with a focus on its suppression of tumor growth.
