Raw research findings for this medication. Mostly single studies, not curated or confirmed robust.
Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory medicine that binds the protein cereblon and changes which proteins the cell breaks down; it also blocks new blood vessel growth and dampens TNF. Infamous for causing birth defects in the 1950s and 60s, it returned under strict controls and is used today for multiple myeloma and for a painful complication of leprosy (erythema nodosum leprosum). It is sold as Thalomid.
Studies on thalidomide in myeloma have looked for genes linked to how well it worked or to its nerve and clotting side effects, among them CHST3, PPARD and CTNNB1, which came up in studies of related cancer treatments. The findings come from single or a few studies, and there is no CPIC or DPWG guideline. The birth-defect risk applies to everyone and does not depend on genes.
Every published finding on gene variants and Thalidomide. Upload your DNA file to see which of these rows apply to you.
PharmGKB weighs all studies of a variant and rates how strong the evidence is, from 1A (strongest) to 4.
NAT2 rs1799931: Level 3. Toxicity: Prostatic Neoplasms. 1.
SULT1C4 rs1402467: Level 3. Efficacy: Prostatic Neoplasms. 1.
RPL13;SNORD68;SPG7 rs12960: Level 3. Toxicity: Prostatic Neoplasms. 1.
CHST3 rs12418: Level 3. Efficacy: Prostatic Neoplasms. 1.
Studies of how well it worked in people carrying a variant.
Studies of how much of the drug people needed or tolerated.
Study findings and evidence levels: PharmGKB (CC BY-SA 4.0). Guidelines: CPIC and DPWG, as bundled in PharmCAT. Most studies were done mainly in people of European ancestry.
More drugs from the same category
Not a prescribing recommendation. This page is educational information about pharmacogenomic research and clinical guidelines - it is not medical or dosing advice, and not a prediction of how any medication will work for you. Never start, stop, or change a medication or dose based on it; talk to your doctor or pharmacist, who can order clinical-grade testing if appropriate.
Content updated September 2026.
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