
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This trial is looking at using lenalidomide (Revlimid) for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a condition affecting the . If you have MDS, your bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells, but not enough healthy blood cells. This can lead to a condition called
. People with anaemia can feel tired and breathless. Doctors often treat anaemia with
.
Lenalidomide is a type of biological therapy. It works mainly by helping the body’s target cancer cells.
The aim of this trial is to find out if taking lenalidomide can reduce the number of blood transfusions that people with MDS need.
You may be able to enter this trial if you
You cannot enter this trial if you
This is an international phase 3 trial. It will recruit 375 people from different countries around the world. It is a randomised trial. The people taking part are put into 1 of 2 groups. Neither you nor your doctor can choose which group you are in or be told which group you are in. This is called a double blind trial.
People in group 1 will have lenalidomide and best supportive care. The people in group 2 will have a dummy drug (placebo) and best supportive care. In this trial, 2 out of every 3 people will go into group 1 and 1 out of every 3 into group 2. So you have a 2 in 3 chance of being put into group 1.
You take 3 capsules of lenalidomide or placebo once a day.
Exactly how long you have treatment for, will depend on how bad your side effects are and whether the treatment is still helping.
You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire every 12 weeks while you are having treatment. It will ask you about any symptoms you have and how you have been. This is called a quality of life questionnaire.
There is an optional part to this trial. The researchers will ask your permission to store some of your blood and bone marrow samples. These samples will be stored safely and may be used in the future for research purposes. Studying these samples may help researchers learn more about lenalidomide and MDS.
If you don’t wish to have your optional blood and bone marrow samples stored for research, you don’t have to. You can still take part in the main trial.
You will see the doctor and have some tests before taking part in this trial. These tests include
During treatment you see the doctor every week for the first 8 weeks, every other week for the next 8 weeks, then monthly. You have blood tests taken at every visit and a physical examination every 4 weeks. You have a bone marrow test done at weeks 12 and 24, then every 24 weeks after that and at the end of treatment.
You see the doctor 4 weeks after you finish treatment. They will then contact you every 3 months to see how you are.
The most common side effects of lenalidomide include
Your doctor will discuss all the possible side effects before you agree to take part in the trial. You can find more information about lenalidomide on CancerHelp UK.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Vyas
Celgene Corporation
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I am glad that taking part in a trial might help others on their own cancer journey.”