Bortezomib Combined With Dexamethasone To Treat Multiple Myeloma

ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effect and adverse events ofbortezomib combined with dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma(MM).Method11 MM patients received treatment of bortezomib combined with dexamethasone during June of 2007～December of 2008.All patients completed one cycle at least.There were 6 male and 5 female.Age arrange from 43 years old to 75 years old,the median age is 63 years old.4 patients(36.4%) were untreated,7 patients(63.6%)were relapsd and refractory MM.1 patient(9.1%) was Durie-Salmon stageⅠ,10 patients(90.9%) were stageⅢ.Total of 11 MM patients were received bortezomib of 1.0～1.3mg/m~2 by iv push on days 1,4,8,and 11 of a 21 day treatment cycle.Dexamethasone was also allowed 20-40 mg/day on days 1,4,8,and 11,each patient received one treatment cycles at least.Response was confirmed after each cycle.International Myeloma Working Group and WHO criteria were used to assess the therapeutic and the adverse effects,respectively. Result4/11(36.4%) patients were complete response or very good complete response(CR +VGPR),5/11(45.4%) were partial response(PR),1/11(9.1%) were stable disease(SD). 1/11(9.1%) were progressive disease(PD).The overall response rate(CR + VGPR + PR) was reached to 81.8%.Infection and anemia were improved in patients.The drug-related toxicities have been encountered are thrombocytopenia(4/11),peripheral sensory neuropathy(5/11),fatigue(4/11),herpes zster virus(HZV) infection(2/11), constipation(2/11).but all the adverse reaction were relieved or recovered after drug withdrawal.ConclusionThe overall response rate of Bortezomib combined with dexamethasone to treat multiple myeloma(MM)in our study is 81.8%.As the adverse effects of the regimen were mild,all the patients were well-tolerated.