Recurrent ovarian cancer patients usually do not have many effective treatment options and long term survival is low. Research continues to evaluate ways to improve outcomes for patients with this disease.

An article published in Gynecologic Oncology said that Thalomid (thalidomide) appears to be safe and may provide an effective treatment option for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Thalomid is a pill that helps block angiogenesis. Anti-angiogenesis medication inhibits blood vessel formation so that cancer growth is limited by the lack of blood supply to the tumor. The drug is also thought to cause activity that stimulates the immune system to help fight cancer cells.

Researchers from Stanford University recently conducted a clinical trial evaluating Thalomid in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer. The trial included 17 patients who had received prior therapy. Three patients achieved an anticancer response, 18 percent and six patients achieved stabilization of their cancer, 35 percent. After one year of treatment, nearly 67 percent of patients who either achieved an anticancer response or disease stabilization had not experienced a progression of their disease.

During the late 1950s, Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant women in many countries around the globe as an antiemetic to combat morning sickness. As it turns out, the drug, which had passed safety tests necessary to gain approval, was a nightmare of unimaginable proportion when it was discovered that babies born to mothers who took the drug suffered extreme birth deformities and missing limbs. Many of the babies did not survive the first year of life. If it were not for Frances Oldham Kelsey, a reviewer for the Food and Drug Administration, who refused to grant approval for a drug she knew was not safe, many babies in the United States would have suffered the same tragic fate. Thalidomide was pulled from the market when it became clear what was causing a sudden epidemic in birth deformities. The drug was later introduced in the treatment for leprosy.

Drug makers have found a new use for thalidomide, being marketed as Thalomid, in the approval for treatment of multiple myeloma -- a blood cancer. It sounds like everyone is being very cautious about this drug, and with good reason, given its history. According to reports, it will be strictly controlled to prevent pregnant women from access to the drug. Thalomid also will carry a black box warning about an increased risk of blood clots for multiple myeloma patients.

A controversial drug known to cause birth defects is now being used as for treating cancer. How did this happen? The drug thalidomide used in the 1950's and 60's to treat morning sickness is now available. Apparently it is very helpful for people with myeloma, (malignant tumor formed by the cells of the bone marrow). It has also been used to stop blood vessel development in cancerous cells. This is not a cure for myeloma, but very beneficial and has been found to greatly increase the quality of life. I am going to assume that it will not be used on women of child bearing age. Hmm, funny how things work out.