@article {7991,
	title = {The combination of intermediate doses of thalidomide with dexamethasone is an effective treatment for patients with refractory/relapsed multiple myeloma and normalizes abnormal bone remodeling, through the reduction of sRANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio},
	journal = {Leukemia},
	volume = {19},
	year = {2005},
	note = {Cited By :63Export Date: 21 February 2017},
	month = {2005},
	pages = {1969 - 1976},
	abstract = {The aim of this study was the evaluation of the effect of intermediate doses of thalidomide with dexamethasone (Thal/Dex) on disease course and bone disease in patients with refractory/relapsed myeloma who were under zoledronic acid therapy. We studied 35 patients, who received thalidomide at a dose of 200mg/daily. We measured, pre-, 3 and 6 months post-treatment soluble receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (sRANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteopontin (OPN), markers of bone resorption and formation. Before treatment, patients had increased levels of sRANKL/OPG ratio, bone resorption markers and OPN, while they had suppressed bone formation. The pretreatment sRANKL/OPG ratio correlated with the extent of bone disease. Thal/Dex administration resulted in a significant reduction of sRANKL/OPG ratio, and bone resorption. Bone formation, OPG and OPN did not show any alteration. Changes of sRANKL/OPG ratio correlated with changes of bone resorption markers. Thal/Dex was given for a median time of 10 months and the median follow-up period was 22 months. The response rate was 65.7\%. The median survival was 19.5 months. β2-microglobulin, type of response and International Staging System predicted for survival. These results suggest that the combination of intermediate dose of Thal/Dex is effective in patients with refractory/relapsed myeloma and improves abnormal bone remodeling through the reduction of sRANKL/OPG ratio. {\textcopyright} 2005 Nature Publishing Group. All rights reserved.},
	keywords = {bone markers, multiple myeloma, Osteopontin, Osteoprotegerin, Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANKL), Thalidomide},
	url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-27644523704\&doi=10.1038\%2fsj.leu.2403890\&partnerID=40\&md5=98753a7f83bce360fc61291e9d2a33b5},
	author = {Terpos, E. and Mihou, D. and Szydlo, R. and Tsimirika, K. and Karkantaris, C. and Politou, M. and Voskaridou, E. and Rahemtulla, A. and Dimopoulos, M.A. and Zervas, K.}
}
