¹ The LeBow Institute for Myeloma Therapeutics and Jerome Lipper Center for Myeloma Research, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and ² Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; and ³ Nereus Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA

It is well appreciated that persons with multiple myeloma have an increased risk of venous thrombosis. More recently, this relative risk has been shown to be increased further in these patients while on therapy with thalidomide and its derivatives. The mechanism of this increased risk for thrombosis has traditionally been attributed to traditional neoplasia risks for thrombosis, such as decreased mobility, surgical procedures, use of chemotherapy, and/or indwelling catheters.