Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma

Background: In this retrospective study we evaluated effectiveness and safety of first- line treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone in multiple myeloma patients, comparing our results with already published clinical studies. Methods: Patients received bortezomib as part of everyday clinica...

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Main Authors: Peter Černelč, Veronika Kodre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Slovenian Medical Association 2012-04-01
Series:Zdravniški Vestnik
Online Access:http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/573
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author Peter Černelč
Veronika Kodre
author_facet Peter Černelč
Veronika Kodre
author_sort Peter Černelč
collection DOAJ
description Background: In this retrospective study we evaluated effectiveness and safety of first- line treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone in multiple myeloma patients, comparing our results with already published clinical studies. Methods: Patients received bortezomib as part of everyday clinical practice and according to the latest guidelines of the Združenje hematologov Slovenije . Patients who were previously treated with first-line VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin modified with farmarubicine, dexamethasone), but due to uneffectiveness changed the treatment to bortezomib, were also included in the study. In 30 patients effectiveness was evaluated after average 3–4 cycles of bortezomib and dexamethasone according to the modified Southwest Oncology Group criteria. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated according to the previous VAD treatment, renal function and cytogenetic analysis. Side effects and reasons for early treatment discontinuation were described. Results: Patients received 2 to 8 cycles (median 4 cycles) of bortezomib and dexamethasone treatment. After average 3–4 cycles, 80 % of patients acheived good treatment response (56.7 % very good partial response, 23.3 % partial response). We observed that the treatment effectiveness was not influenced by previous VAD treatment, renal insufficiency and negative cytogenetic analisys, since we observed similar rates of very good partial response and partial response in patients without previous VAD treatment (82.3 % vs. 76.9 %), normal renal function (85.7 % vs. 75 % ) and normal cytogenetics (77.8 % vs. 80 %), although statistical evaluation was not possible due to small number of patients. The most common side effect was neuropathy (40 %) and in 5 patients (16.6 %), due to grade 3 or more, the treatment was discontinued. Other side effects were: anemia (26.6 %), infection (166 %), thrombocytopenia (10 %), neutropenia (6.6 %), gastrointestinal problems (23.3 %) and herpes zooster (6.6 %). Conclusions: Bortezomib (Velcade) in combination with dexamethasone is an effective and safe first-line multiple myeloma treatment and is not influenced by renal insuficience, unfavourable cytogenetic analysis or previous uneffective VAD treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-af3515f4ef81413f9635f37e7f3861932022-12-22T00:47:15ZengSlovenian Medical AssociationZdravniški Vestnik1318-03471581-02242012-04-01814465Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myelomaPeter ČernelčVeronika KodreBackground: In this retrospective study we evaluated effectiveness and safety of first- line treatment with bortezomib and dexamethasone in multiple myeloma patients, comparing our results with already published clinical studies. Methods: Patients received bortezomib as part of everyday clinical practice and according to the latest guidelines of the Združenje hematologov Slovenije . Patients who were previously treated with first-line VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin modified with farmarubicine, dexamethasone), but due to uneffectiveness changed the treatment to bortezomib, were also included in the study. In 30 patients effectiveness was evaluated after average 3–4 cycles of bortezomib and dexamethasone according to the modified Southwest Oncology Group criteria. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated according to the previous VAD treatment, renal function and cytogenetic analysis. Side effects and reasons for early treatment discontinuation were described. Results: Patients received 2 to 8 cycles (median 4 cycles) of bortezomib and dexamethasone treatment. After average 3–4 cycles, 80 % of patients acheived good treatment response (56.7 % very good partial response, 23.3 % partial response). We observed that the treatment effectiveness was not influenced by previous VAD treatment, renal insufficiency and negative cytogenetic analisys, since we observed similar rates of very good partial response and partial response in patients without previous VAD treatment (82.3 % vs. 76.9 %), normal renal function (85.7 % vs. 75 % ) and normal cytogenetics (77.8 % vs. 80 %), although statistical evaluation was not possible due to small number of patients. The most common side effect was neuropathy (40 %) and in 5 patients (16.6 %), due to grade 3 or more, the treatment was discontinued. Other side effects were: anemia (26.6 %), infection (166 %), thrombocytopenia (10 %), neutropenia (6.6 %), gastrointestinal problems (23.3 %) and herpes zooster (6.6 %). Conclusions: Bortezomib (Velcade) in combination with dexamethasone is an effective and safe first-line multiple myeloma treatment and is not influenced by renal insuficience, unfavourable cytogenetic analysis or previous uneffective VAD treatment.http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/573
spellingShingle Peter Černelč
Veronika Kodre
Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
Zdravniški Vestnik
title Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
title_full Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
title_fullStr Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
title_short Effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
title_sort effectiveness of first line treatment with bortezomib prior to autologous stem cell transplantation for multiple myeloma
url http://vestnik.szd.si/index.php/ZdravVest/article/view/573
work_keys_str_mv AT petercernelc effectivenessoffirstlinetreatmentwithbortezomibpriortoautologousstemcelltransplantationformultiplemyeloma
AT veronikakodre effectivenessoffirstlinetreatmentwithbortezomibpriortoautologousstemcelltransplantationformultiplemyeloma