Mayo Clinic Care Network Content
Articles

Thalidomide: Research advances in cancer and other conditions

Areas of thalidomide research

Researchers continue to investigate thalidomide for use in treating a variety of diseases and conditions. Though more study is needed, thalidomide has shown promise in treating:

  • Inflammatory diseases that affect the skin, such as cutaneous lupus and Behcet's disease
  • HIV-related mouth and throat ulcers, as well as HIV-related weight loss and body wasting
  • Cancer, including blood and bone marrow cancers, such as leukemia and myelofibrosis, as well as cancers found elsewhere in the body