[Effectiveness of bortezomib and bortezomib-containing programs for the treatment of recurrent and resistant multiple myeloma].

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of bortezomib and bortezomib-containing treatment programs in the therapy of resistant and recurrent multiple myeloma (MM) within a large unicenter study in real clinical practice conditions.

Subjects And Methods: The study enrolled 101 patients (48 men and 53 women aged 34 to 77 years, mean age 54 years) with resistant and recurrent MM. According to the types of paraprotein (PIg), the authors revealed the usual distribution: G, 60.7%; A, 23.8%; BJ, 13%; M, 1.15%; D, 1.15%. The PIg kappa/lambda light chain ratio was 1.7. The complicated course of the disease was noted in 50.4% of the patients. The patients were randomized into 4 treatment groups: V1--velcade 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of a 21-day cycle; V2--velcade 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, melphalan 20 mg orally on day 2 of a 28-day cycle; V3--velcade 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, melphalan 9 mg/m2 orally for 4 days, prednisolone 60 mg/m2 orally for 4 days of a 42-day cycle; V4--velcade 1.3 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, melphalan 9 mg/m2 orally for 4 days, prednisolone 60 mg/m2 orally for 4 days, cyclophosphanum, 250 mg/m2 intravenously dropwise on days 1 to 7 of a 60-day cycle. An average of 6.5 induction treatment cycles was performed.

Results: Amongst the 27 patients receiving bortezomib therapy (V1), an objective response to therapy was obtained in 70.3%, including a complete response (CR) in 18.5%, a near-complete response (NCR) in 14.8%, and a partial response (PR) in 37%. When a combination of melphalan and bortezomib (VM; V2) was used, 22 patients achieved CR, NCR, and PR, which were equal to 9, 13, and 45.4%, respectively. In the group of 20 patients on the triple combination (VMP; V3), the amount of CR and PR was 90%. The use of the quadruple combination regimen (V4; VMCP) yielded an objective response (CR + NCR + PR) in 63.2% of the 32 patients, which did not virtually differ from other programs other than V3. However, the amount of CR +NCR (43.6%) was more than that in other groups. When all these programs were implemented, clinically significant myelotoxicity and grades 3 and 4 polyneuropathy were not seen. When the bortezomib-containing programs were applied, the median overall survival from the moment of diagnosis was 103 months.

Conclusion: Bortezomib in the monotherapy and multidrug therapy for resistant and recurrent MM shows immediate and long-term benefits and a low toxicity.