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Updated: Jul 7, 2026

An Organotypic High Throughput System for Characterization of Drug Sensitivity of Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells
Published on: July 15, 2015
Unusual discordant responses in two multiple myeloma patients during bortezomib treatment
Maria Teresa Pirrotta1, Alessandro Gozzetti, Alfonso Cerase
1Division of Hematology and Transplants, University of Siena, Policlinico Santa aria alle Scotte, Siena, Italy.
Background:
Cases of discordant responses in multiple myeloma (MM) patients after thalidomide therapy have been sometimes reported, in which extramedullary masses progress or present de novo with a simultaneous serum monoclonal protein reduction.
Patients And Methods:
We hereby report, for the first time, on two cases of MM patients with extramedullary myeloma localizations that developed during Velcade (bortezomib, PS341) treatment with a concomitant serum monoclonal protein reduction.
Results:
We observed in both patients a very good response in the serum monoclonal protein level, while extramedullary lesions appeared in the central nervous system and subcutaneously.
Conclusions:
We discuss pharmacokinetics of bortezomib and physiopathology of this unusual event and review the literature.
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