RESULTS OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA TREATMENT WITH BORTEZOMIB
Bortezomib efficacy in I, II and subsequent line therapy was studied in 21 multiple myeloma (MM) patients. The patients had the median age of 56 years (range 39-72 years), the patients received from 4 to 12 therapy courses. For patients who received bortezomib plus melphalan and prednizolon (VMP) the overall response rate was 77.7%. 22.2% patients achieved complete remission + near-complete remission (based on EBMT criteria). Efficacy of bortezomib monotherapy and its combination with glucocorticoids in case of progressing and refractory MM was 80%. Bortezomib was effective even at repeated administration to patients who had earlier received other components of combined regimens (complete remission - 33.3%). Bortezomib side effects were predicted and managed; the most significant of them were gastrointestinal and hematological effects as well as asthenia and peripheral neuropathy. Serious adverse events were rare. These results allow to consider the use of bortezomib as a modern strategy in therapy of patients with MM. Thus, bortezomib is a highly effective drug which is well tolerated by patient with newly diagnosed MM and subsequent therapy lines.