Dexamethasone Treatment Options in New York

RATIONALE: Bortezomib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cyclophosphamide and dexamethasone, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Thalidomide may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Giving bortezomib together with cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, and thalidomide may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well giving bortezomib together with cyclophosphamide, dexamethasone, and thalidomide works in treating patients with newly diagnosed, previously untreated multiple myeloma. Read Less

Antenatal corticosteroids result in substantial decrease in neonatal morbidity and mortality by specifically reducing the risk of respiratory distress syndrome, intraventricular hemorrhage and neonatal death among premature infants. No human randomized study has formally compared betamethasone and dexamethasone, the preferred corticosteroids for antenatal therapy, with regards to their effectiveness in reducing neonatal morbidities and mortality. Our objective was to compare betamethasone with dexamethasone in terms of effectiveness in reducing perinatal morbidities and mortality among preterm infants. Read Less