Data fra in vitro- undersøgelser samt kliniske forsøg synes at pege i retning af, at de immunmodulerende, antiinflammatoriske og antineoplastiske virkninger af thalidomid er forbundet med supprimering af en for kraftig tumornekrosefaktor- alfa( TNF- α) - produktion, nedregulering af udvalgte celleoverflade- adhæsionsmolekyler involveret i leukocytmigration samt antiangiogenetisk aktivitet.
Data from in vitro studies and clinical trials suggest that the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic effects of thalidomide may be related to suppression of excessive tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production, down-modulation of selected cell surface adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte migration and anti-angiogenic activity.