Lenalidomide (Revlimid®) in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma

Thalidomide and its analogue lenalidomide Lenalidomide [3-(4’aminoisoindolin- 1’-one)-1-piperidine-2, 6- dione, Revlimid®] is the lead compound in a new class of agents which are known as the immunomodulatory drugs.1 Lenali-domide has a similar chemical structure to thalidomide. Both drugs have a comparable in vitro profile; however, lenalidomide is more potent. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lenalidomide for the treatment of patients with transfusion dependent anemia due to low- or intermediate- 1-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) associated with the deletion of 5q cytogenetic abnormality with or without additional cytogenetic abnormalities.2 In addition, it is FDA approved for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have failed at least one prior therapy.3 Due to its structural similarities to thalidomide, a known human teratogen, lenalidomide is approved for marketing only under a special restricted distribution program called RevAssistsm.