Treatment-emergent peripheral neuropathy associated with bortezomib-based frontline regimens for multiple myeloma

Bortezomib (V)-based regimens are standard first-line treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM), an incurable plasma cell malignancy. A common adverse reaction in patients receiving V is treatment-emergent peripheral neuropathy (TEPN), which can negatively impact patients' quality of life and increase healthcare burden. We applied a line-of-therapy algorithm to Optum's de-identified Clinformatics^® Data Mart Database. Patients were grouped into V-based versus non-V-based regimens, and 1:1 matching was applied. After matching, baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between groups, including mean age (V-based, 74.5; non-V-based, 74.8 years) and males (V-based, 53.7%; non-V-based, 50.9%). TEPN was observed in 24% of patients in the V-based group versus 9% in the non-V-based group. The TEPN incidence rate was significantly higher in the V-based group versus non-V-based group (46.0 vs. 15.8 per person-years, p < 0.0001). Identifying therapies associated with lower TEPN incidence can inform MM treatment choices.