[Therapeutic efficacy of bortezomib-based chemotherapy on 40 patients with multiple myeloma]

This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and adverse events of bortezomib-based chemotherapy for 40 patients with multiple myeloma. 16 newly diagnosed patients and 11 patients with refractory/relapse myeloma were treated with bortezomib, dexamethasone and thalidomide; 7 newly diagnosed patients and 4 patients with refractory/relapse myeloma were treated with bortezomib and dexamethasone; 2 newly diagnosed patients were treated with bortezomib, melphalan and thalidomide. Cycles were repeated every 28 or 35 days, all the patients were treated for 2 to 8 cycles. The therapeutic efficacy and adverse events were evaluated according to International Myeloma Working Group Uniform Response Criteria. The results indicated that the median follow-up duration was 13 months, the total response rate was 72.5%, among which 16 patients achieved complete response (CR), 13 achieved partial response (PR). The main side effects included gastrointestinal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy, thrombocytopenia, respiratory infection, herpes zoster and urinary retention and so on. The adverse events were ameliorated by treatment and decrease of the bortezomib dose. It is concluded that bortezomib-based chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of either newly diagnosed or refractory/relapse MM patients and the adverse events are tolerable and manageable for patients.