Bortezomib: new drug. A last resort in myeloma: modest efficacy, major risks

(1) First-line treatment of multiple myeloma depends first and foremost on the patient's age. There is no standard treatment for relapses and the median survival time after the first relapse is only 12 to 15 months. (2) Bortezomib, a cytotoxic agent, inhibits the 26S proteasome involved in protein breakdown in mammalian cells. It is licensed for use in myeloma after multiple treatment failure. (3) Three dose-finding studies showed some effects of 1 mg/m2 and 1.3 mg/m2 bortezomib administered twice a week for two weeks, with each course followed by a 10-day treatment-free period. It is not known whether 1.3 mg/m2 is more effective than 1 mg/m2. (4) In a non comparative trial that included 202 patients with multidrug-resistant myeloma, progression-free survival time increased to a median of 6.6 months (compared to 3.3 months after previous relapses), and the median overall survival time was 7 months in the 75% of patients who did not respond and more than 15 months in the 25% of responders. However, given the heterogeneous nature of the study population the evidence from this trial is rather weak. (5) An unblinded comparative trial including 54 patients failed to show whether bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 was more effective than bortezomib 1 mg/m2 in terms of clinical outcome. Another comparative trial including 669 patients indicated that bortezomib was more effective than dexamethasone in terms of the median time to disease progression (5.7 months versus 3.6 months). (6) Animal studies indicate that bortezomib is cardiotoxic and neurotoxic, and that the interval between the maximal tolerated dose and the fatal dose is very small. Experience with bortezomib use is too limited to know the possible clinical repercussions of these experimental findings. (7) Adverse effects were frequent and varied in clinical trials. They included fatigue, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, thrombocytopenia and peripheral neuropathies. They affected 30% to 60% of patients overall, and were severe in about 10% to 20% of patients. Other adverse effects included hypotension, fever, headache, pain and dehydration. (8) Bortezomib is metabolised by cytochrome P 450 isoenzyme 3A4, and this implies a high risk of drug-drug interactions. (9) Each vial of bortezomib contains more of the drug than is needed for one injection. This is not only wasteful, but also carries a risk of overdosing, with potentially serious consequences, should the entire contents be injected by mistake. (10) Bortezomib may be used as a last resort in some patients with multiple myeloma, but the individual risk-benefit balance must be carefully weighed in each case.