Dr. Kumar presented the results of a gene expression study conducted on 50 patients who were randomized to receive either thalidomide and dexamethasone (30 patients) or dexamethasone alone (20 patients). 45 patients responded to therapy; 5 did not.

Dr. Kumar studied the gene expression profiles of responders and non-responders; if we can identify non-responders before they begin therapy, we can avoid giving them a drug to which they will not respond but which may cause toxic side effects. Dr. Kumar identified a number of genes that were predictive of a patient?s response to therapy with thal/dex, and noted 3 genes that were not present in the profiles of non-responders.

He then looked at 12 chromosomal translocations and determined that 7 of the 12 did not prevent patients from responding to thal/dex. 19 patients with none of the translocations all responded to thal/dex.

This study has helped to establish the groundwork for a better understanding of how genetic alterations influence response to therapy.