The Proteasome Inhibitor Bortezomib (Velcade) in he Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma. The First Experience in the Czech Republic
2005
Abstract
Multiple myeloma is the second most prevalent and mostly fatal hematologic cancer. Further advances have been made in understanding the mechanisms involved in the myeloma pathogenesis and elucidation of critical signalling pathways as therapeutical targets.
Proteasome inhibitors are the example of this new approach and bortezomib is the first agent in this class to enter clinical trials. Unfortunately, one patient died immediately after the start of therapy due to sepsis.
The most common adverse events were thrombocytopenia, anaemia, neuropathy, gastrointestinal complication, renal failure and fatigue. We confirmed promising results of phase II trials.