Analysis of Risk Factors of Herpes Zoster in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Treated with Bortezomib / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore and analyze the risk factors of herpes zoster in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) during the chemotherapy with bortezomib.@*METHODS@#Clinical data of 85 MM patients treated with bontizomib from January 2015 to January 2019 were selected and divided into case group and control group accroding to the occurred of herpes zoster. The clinical characteristic, treatment outcome and related factor of herpes zoster were retrospective analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Twenty of the 85 patients with MM treated with bortezomib developed herpes zoster occurred (23.5%). Single-factor analysis showed that age≥65 years, lymphocytopenia occurred before treatment, neutropenia occurred before treatment, ECOG score≥2, application of cyclophosphamide, absence of preventive antiviral therapy were associated with the genesis of herpes zoster (P＜0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that lymphocytopenia occurred before treatment, the application of cyclophosphamide and the absence of preventive antiviral therapy were the independent risk factors for herpes zoster (P＜0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The incidence of herpes zoster is high in the multiple myeloma patients treated with bortezomib. Lymphocytopenia occurred before treatment, the application of cyclophosphamide, and the absence of prophylactic antiviral therapy are the important risk factors for herpes zoster, for which the clinicians should attach great importance.

Clinical Analysis of Maintenance Therapy with Thalidomine and Bortezomib for Multiple Myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the therapeutic effect and adverse reactions of the maintenance therapies with Thalidomine or Bortezomib in the patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM), so as to provide a reference for clinical treatment.@*METHODS@#A retrospective analysis was conducted to compare the progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and adverse reaction rate of 23 MM patients received the maintenance therapies of Bortezomib and of 68 MM patients received maintenance therapy of Thalidomine.@*RESULTS@#The maintenance therapy with Bortezomib could extend the PFS of MM patients as compared with Thalidomine (PFS rate of patients on the maintenance therapy of Bortezomib in 12th, and 24th month was 100%, 88.89%, and that of Thalidomine-treated group was 72.31%, 47.54%). What's more, some specific patients could get better 2-year PFS rate in Bortezomib group than that in Thalidomine group, such as older than 65 years old, after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(ASCT), having genetic changes, extramedullary lesions, poor renal function, low serum free light chain ratio, high β2-MG, anemia, high LDH, VGPR of induction and consolidation therapy. The OS rate of Bortezomib on 18th, 24th and 30th month was 100%, 88.89%, 80% verus 91.52%,83.63%,72.90% of the group with thalidemide at the same time. As for 2-year OS rate, the Bortezomib group was higher than Thalidomine without statistical differences. However, the patients such as older than 65 years old, poor renal function and with extramedullary lesions, would also get higher 2-year OS rate from Bortezomi. Bortezomib and thalidomide could cause bone marrow suppression, peripheral neuritis and other adverse reactions.@*CONCLUSION@#The efficacy of maintenance therapy with Bortezomib is superior to thalidomide. As a conclusion, bortezomib is a better option for maintenance therapy of MM patient.

Hydrogen sulfide in posthemorrhagic shock mesenteric lymph drainage alleviates kidney injury in rats

Posthemorrhagic shock mesenteric lymph (PHSML) is a key factor in multiple organ injury following hemorrhagic shock. We investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in PHSML drainage in alleviating acute kidney injury (AKI) by administering D,L-propargylglycine (PPG) and sodium hydrosulfide hydrate (NaHS) to 12 specific pathogen-free male Wistar rats with PHSML drainage. A hemorrhagic shock model was established in 4 experimental groups: shock, shock+drainage, shock+drainage+PPG (45 mg/kg, 0.5 h prehemorrhage), and shock+drainage+NaHS (28 µmol/kg, 0.5 h prehemorrhage). Fluid resuscitation was performed after 1 h of hypotension, and PHMSL was drained in the last three groups for 3 h after resuscitation. Renal function and histomorphology were assessed along with levels of H2S, cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in renal tissue. Hemorrhagic shock induced AKI with increased urea and creatinine levels in plasma and higher H2S, CSE, TLR4, IL-10, IL-12, and TNF-α levels in renal tissue. PHSML drainage significantly reduced urea, creatinine, H2S, CSE, and TNF-α but not TLR4, IL-10, or IL-12. PPG decreased creatinine, H2S, IL-10, and TNF-α levels, but this effect was reversed by NaHS administration. In conclusion, PHSML drainage alleviated AKI following hemorrhagic shock by preventing increases in H2S and H2S-mediated inflammation.

The Effect of Bortezomib on Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines and Survival in a Murine Sepsis Model Induced by Cecal Ligation and Puncture

PURPOSE: Although the proteasome inhibitor known as bortezomib can modulate the inflammatory process through the nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathway, the immunomodulatory effect of pre-incubated bortezomib has not been fully evaluated for inflammation by infectious agents. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of bortezomib on the expression of inflammatory cytokines and mediators in macrophage cell lines and on survival in a murine peritonitis sepsis model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bortezomib was applied 1 hr before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in RAW 264.7 cells. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) experiments were performed in C57BL/6J mice. RESULTS: Pre-incubation with bortezomib (25 nM or 50 nM) prior to LPS (50 ng/mL or 100 ng/mL) stimulation significantly recovered the number of viable RAW 264.7 cells compared to those samples without pre-incubation. Bortezomib decreased various inflammatory cytokines as well as nitric oxide production in LPS-stimulated cells. The 7-day survival rate in mice that had received bortezomib at 0.01 mg/kg concentration 1 hr prior to CLP was significantly higher than in the mice that had only received a normal saline solution of 1 mL 1 hr prior to CLP. In addition, the administration of bortezomib at 0.01 mg/kg concentration 1 hr before CLP resulted in a significant decrease in inflammation of the lung parenchyma. Collectively, pretreatment with bortezomib showed an increase in the survival rate and changes in the levels of inflammatory mediators. CONCLUSION: These results support the possibility of pretreatment with bortezomib as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of overwhelming inflammation, which is a characteristic of severe sepsis.

Effects of the phosphoinostitide-3'-kinase delta inhibitor, CAL-101, in combination with Bortezomib on mantle lymophma cells and exploration of its related mechanism / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of CAL-101, a selective inhibitor of PI3Kδ, in combination with bortezomib on the proliferation and apoptosis in human mantle cell lymphoma cell lines Z138, HBL-2 and Jeko-1 in vitro, to explore its mechanisms and provide the foundation for effective treatment strategies against mantle cell lymphoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MTT assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effects of CAL-101 and bortezomib either alone or combined on Z138, HBL-2 and Jeko-1 cells. Calcusyn software was used to analyze the synergistic cytotoxicity. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PI3K-p110σ and p-Akt, Akt, p-ERK and ERK proteins after the cells were exposed to different concentrations of CAL-101. Flow cytometry was employed to assess the apoptosis rate. NF-κB kit was used to determine the changes of location of NF-κB P65, and Western blot was applied to detect the level of caswpase-3 and the phosphorylation of Akt in different groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAL-101 and BTZ inhibited the proliferation of Z138, HBL-2 and Jeko-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. CAL-101/BTZ combination induced significantly synergistic cytotoxicity in the MCL cells. The results of Western blot assay showed that CAL-101 significantly blocked the phosphorylation of Akt and ERK in the MCL cell lines. In addition, CAL-101 combined with BTZ induced pronounced apoptosis (P < 0.01). For example, after the Z138 cells exposed to the drugs for 48 h, the apoptosis rates of the control, CAL-101, BTZ and CAL-101 + BTZ groups were: (2.6 ± 1.8)%, (40.0 ± 3.0)%, (34.0 ± 1.0)%, and (67.4 ± 1.0)%, respectively; and when drug treatment was given to HBL-2 cells over 96 h, the apoptosis rates of these four cell groups were (7.4 ± 0.6)%, (30.7 ± 5.7)%, (12.0 ± 1.0)%, and (85.0 ± 4.0)%, respectively. The combination therapy contributed to the enhanced inactivity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Akt inactivation in the MCL cell lines (P < 0.05), however, the casepase-3 activity was up-regulated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The combination of CAL-101 and bortezomib is muchmore effective in inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of mantle cell lymphoma cell lines (Z138, HBL-2 and Jeko-1), which may be mediated through inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and the transcription of NF-κB.</p>

Combined Use of the Modified Hodge Test and Carbapenemase Inhibition Test for Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae and Metallo-beta-Lactamase-Producing Pseudomonas spp

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the combined use of the modified Hodge test (MHT) and carbapenemase inhibition test (CIT) using phenylboronic acid (PBA) and EDTA to detect carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) and metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing Pseudomonas spp. METHODS: A total of 49 isolates of CPE (15 Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase [KPC], 5 Guiana extended-spectrum beta-lactamase [GES]-5, 9 New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase [NDM]-1, 5 Verona integron-encoded metallo-beta-lactamase [VIM]-2, 3 imipenem-hydrolyzing beta-lactamase [IMP], and 12 oxacillinase [OXA]-48-like), 25 isolates of MBL-producing Pseudomonas spp. (14 VIM-2 and 11 IMP), and 35 carbapenemase-negative controls were included. The MHT was performed for all isolates as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Enhanced growth of the indicator strain was measured in mm with a ruler. The CIT was performed by directly dripping PBA and EDTA solutions onto carbapenem disks that were placed on Mueller-Hinton agar plates seeded with the test strain. RESULTS: Considering the results of the MHT with the ertapenem disk in Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp., the CIT with the meropenem disk in Enterobacteriaceae, and the imipenem disk in Pseudomonas spp., three combined disk tests, namely MHT-positive plus PBA-positive, EDTA-positive, and MHT-positive plus PBA-negative plus EDTA-negative, had excellent sensitivity and specificity for the detection of KPC- (100% sensitivity and 100% specificity), MBL- (94% sensitivity and 100% specificity), and OXA-48-like-producing isolates (100% sensitivity and 100% specificity), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Combined use of the MHT and CIT with PBA and EDTA, for the detection of CPE and MBL-producing Pseudomonas spp., is effective in detecting and characterizing carbapenemases in routine laboratories.

Analysis of bortezomib treatment efficacy and adverse reactions for patients with follicular lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of bortezomib in the treatment of follicular lymphoma patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to treatment methods, the 56 follicular lymphoma patients were divided into 2 groups: CHOP group (26 cases) and bortezomib group (30 cases). The patients in CHOP group received the CHOP chemotherapy regimens (cyclophosphamide+ epirubicin+vincristine+prednisolone), the patients in bortezomib group received bortezomib based on CHOP. The clinical curative effect and adverse reaction between the two groups were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The short-term efficacy of bortezomib group showed significantly better than that in CHOP group (P < 0.05), the total efficiency in bortezomib group (80%) was significantly higher than that in CHOP group (53.85%) (P < 0.05). The progression free survival of the patients in the bortezomib group was statistically longer than that in the CHOP group (10 months vs 6 months) (P = 0.013). There was no significant differences in the overall survival mediam survival time between these two groups (10 months vs 11 months)(P = 0.107). The occurrence of adverse reactions in the two groups was no significant different (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bortezomib combined with CHOP chemotherapy can obviously prolong the progression free survival of patients, and improve the total efficiency without increase of adverse reaction. The benefit to overall survival needs to further extend follow-up observation.</p>

Latest advances on the maintenance therapy of multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an uncurable disease. Chemotherapy with standard dose or autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) after chemotherapy with high dose is able to induce remission, but relapse still exists. For this reason the ultimate goal of MM treatment is to improve relapse free survival (RFS) and progression free survival (PFS) efficiently. Recently, maintenance therapy made substantial progress in improving progression-free survival and overall survival (OS) of patients with multiple myeloma, especially thalidomide, lenalidomide and bortezomib used in clinic. Here, the latest advances of clinical researches on maintenance therapy of MM are summarized briefly in this review.

The Effect of Bortezomib on Antibody-Mediated Rejection after Kidney Transplantation

PURPOSE: Recently, bortezomib has been used to treat antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) refractory to conventional treatment such as plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, and rituximab. The authors aimed to describe their experiences when bortezomib was used to treat refractory AMR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eleven refractory AMR episodes treated with bortezomib were included in this study. The patients received one or two cycles of bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) on days 1, 4, 8, and 11. RESULTS: Bortezomib effectively reduced antibodies against various targets, including human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II, ABO blood group antigen, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor. Antibodies were depleted or reduced significantly in eight AMR episodes. Overall, there was a significant improvement in the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 3 months after therapy (36.91+/-22.15 mL/min/1.73 m2) versus eGFR at time of AMR diagnosis (17.00+/-9.25 mL/min/1.73 m2; p=0.007). All six early-onset AMR episodes (within 6 months post-transplantation) showed full recovery of allograft function. Additionally, three of the five late-onset AMR episodes (>6 months post-transplantation) showed improved allograft function. CONCLUSION: Anti-humoral treatment based on bortezomib might be an effective strategy against refractory AMR caused by various types of antibodies. Notably, this treatment could be more effective in early-onset AMR than in late-onset AMR.

Effects of bortezomib combined with 5-azacytidine on the apoptosis of K562 cells and expression of SHIP mRNA / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of bortezomib combined with 5-azacytidine on the apoptosis of K562 cells and expressiom of SHIP mRNA. The K562 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of bortezomib, 5-azacytidine or their combination for 24 hours. Then, the expression of SHIP mRNA was detected by RT-PCR,the cell proliferation was analyzed by using MTT assay and flow cytometry. The results showed that 5-20 nmol/L bortezomib could effectively inhibit the proliferation of K562 and this inhibitory effect gradually enhanced along with the increase of bortezomib concentration, the group of bortezomib combined with 5-azacytidine showed more inhibitory effect on K562 cells than that of bortezomib or 5-azacytidine alone.The bortezomib could promote the apoptosis of K562 cells in a dose-dependent manner,and this apoptotic effect was higher in group of bortezomib combined with 5-azacytidine than that in group of bortezomib or 5-azacytidine alone.Bortezomib could down-regulated the expression of SHIP mRNA in a dose-dependent manner,and this down-requlated effect was higher in group of bortezomib combined with 5-azacytidine than that in group of bortezomib or 5-azacytidine alone.It is concluded that bortezomib and 5-azacytidine can induce apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of SHIP mRNA in K562 cells.The combination of bortezomib with 5-azacytidine displays a synergetic effect.

Clinical characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of immunoglobin D multiple myeloma / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of immunoglobin D multiple myeloma (IgD MM) and its curative efficacy. The clinical data of 15 cases of newly diagnosed IgD MM from April 1993 to June 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Among 15 cases received induction treatment, the traditional chemotherapy was carried out in 9 cases, bortezomib-based therapy was performed in 6 cases. The diagnostic criteria and disease response criteria of MM were based on International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria,survival time was analyzed by using Kaplan-Meier method, the median age of patients was 57 years (range 40-72), the ratio of male to female was 2:1, the MM patients in Durie-Salmon stage III accounted for 100% (15/15) , the MM patients with λ light chain accounts for 80% (12/15) , with bone lesion 86.7% (13/15), with pleural effusion 26.7% (4/15) , with renal impairment (RI) 86.7% (13/15) ,with anemia 93.3% (14/15) , with serum album<35 g/L 26.7% (4/15). The median creatinine clearance rate (Ccr) of patients was 23.1 (6-44) ml/min, and median hemoglobin level was 82 (43-131) g/L. The results showed that in followed-up 11 cases, 8 cases died, 3 cases survived; the average duration of follow-up for these cases was 20 (0.5-138) months, the median progression-free survival time (PFS) was 7 (95%CI4.6-9.4) months, and the median overall survival (OS) time was 15 (95%CI6.6-27.4 ) months. Compared traditional chemotherapy with bortezomib regimen therapy,median OS time was 17 (95%CI6.1-28.0) months vs 15 (95%CI 0.0-33.3) months (P = 0.90) . Assessable curative effect of 14 cases was as follows: CR 33.3% (5/15); VGPR 13.3% (2/15); PR 20% (3/15); SD 20% (3/15); PD 6.7% (1/15). It is concluded that IgD MM is a rare type of MM and has a poor prognosis. Bortezomib may be beneficial for some patients with extramedullary infiltration. Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation may improve survival time.

Use of Bortezomib as Anti-Humoral Therapy in Kidney Transplantation

This study aimed to investigate the effect of bortezomib in the desensitization and treatment of acute antibody mediated rejection (AAMR) in kidney transplantation. Nine patients who received bortezomib therapy for desensitization (DSZ group, n = 3) or treatment of AAMR (AAMR group, n = 6) were included in this study. In the DSZ group, 2 patients required DSZ owing to positive cross match and 1 owing to ABO mismatch with high baseline anti-ABO antibody titer (1:1,024). Bortezomib was used at 1, 3, 8, and 11 days from the start of the treatment. In the AAMR group, 3 patients showed full recovery of allograft function after bortezomib use and decrease in donor specific anti-HLA antibody (HLA-DSA). However, 3 patients did not respond to bortezomib and experienced allograft failure. In the DSZ group, negative conversion of T-CDC (complement-dependent cytotoxicity) was achieved, and HLA-DSA was decreased to lower than a weak level (median fluorescence intensity [MFI] < 5,000) in 2 patients. In the case of ABO mismatch kidney transplantation, the anti-A/B antibody titer decreased to below the target (< or = 1:16) after bortezomib therapy. Therefore, bortezomib could be an alternative therapeutic option for desensitization and treatment of AAMR that is unresponsive to conventional therapies.

Bortezomib enhances the sensitivity of prostate cancer cells to natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate whether bortezomib can enhance the sensitivity of human prostate cancer (PCa) cells to natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and whether it produces the same effect on different PCa cell lines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We treated androgen-dependent PCa LNCaP cells and androgen-independent PCa DU145 cells with bortezomib at the concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 nmol/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours, and then detected the proliferation and apoptosis of the tumor cells by CCK-8 and Annexin V/PI, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The proliferation rates of the DU145 cells treated with 15, 20 and 25 nmol/L bortezomib were (82.79 +/-2.04)%, (73.59+/- 2.95)% and (74.16+/- 6. 16)% at 48 hours and (71.24+/- 5.30)%, (51.20+/- 2.91)% and (38.02+/- 2.67)% at 72 hours, and those of the LNCaP cells were (77.04+/- 7.74)% , (42.61 +/- 6.62)% and (23.85 +/-6.04)% at 48 hours and (36.45 +/-7.02)%, (14.94 +/-5.76)% and (11.65 +/-5. 87)% at 72 hours, both significantly inhibited as compared with the control group (P <0.05). At 24 hours, the apoptosis rates of the DU145 cells treated with 15, 20 and 25 nmol/L bortezomib were (14.41 +/- 1.32)% , (16.13 +/- 1.55)% and (14.48 +/- 1.42)% , and those of the LNCaP cells treated with 20 and 25 nmol/L bortezomib were (12.77 +/- 1.28)% and (14. 84 +/- 1.65)% , significantly higher than those of the control group (P <0.05) , and the DU145 cells showed an even higher sensitivity to bortezomib than the LNCaP cells. Bortezomib failed to sensitize these two cell lines to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity in short-term assay, while long-term assay manifested that the apoptosis rates of DU145 and LNCaP cells after treated with 20 nmol/L bortezomib + NK cells were (41.83 +/- 5.06)% and (30.31 +/- 3.62)% , respectively, significantly higher</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Bortezomib enhances the sensitivity of than those after treated with either bortezomib or NK cells alone (P <0.05). PCa cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and adds to the effect of current cancer therapies, and it is more efficacious for androgen-independent prostate cancer.</p>

Culture and regulation of osteoblasts in multiple myeloma patients / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the biological characteristics of osteoblasts cultured in vitro from bone marrow (BM) of multiple myeloma (MM) patients and to explore their generation and osteogenic potential. Effects of some factors such as bortezomib and MM patient serum on the osteoblasts were observed.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty MM patients and 10 healthy donors as controls were enrolled in this study. Osteoblasts from MM patients'BM were cultured in vitro. The generation and osteogenic potential of osteoblasts from MM patients and normal subjects were compared. The changes of their osteogenic potential and biological characteristics were observed. The antigens (CD34,CD138,CD45) on osteoblasts were catalyzed by flow cytometry. The levels of IL-7 were measured by ELISA. The BMP2 mRNAs were measured by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Osteoblasts from MM patients'BM could be cultured in vitro. The quantity of osteoblasts from MM patients (6.3±1.5) was less than normal subjects (8.2±2.6) (P<0.05). The osteoblasts cultured with MM patient serum (7.4±1.1) were less than those without patient serum (8.2±2.6) (P<0.05). Bortezomib increased those from MM patients after 6 days culture (8.9±2.1 vs 6.3±1.5) (P<0.05). Von Kossa staining showed that there were more calcium depositions in MM osteoblasts with bortezomib (8.8±1.9) than those without bortezomib (6.1±1.6) (P<0.05), but less than those from normal controls (15.8±2.2) (P<0.05). CD138, CD45, CD34 were not detected on the cultured cells. The level of IL-7 in MM patients'serum (2.07±0.71) was higher than that in normal controls (1.62±0.15) (P<0.05). The expression of BMP2 mRNA was seen in the normal osteoblasts and MM patients'osteoblasts cultured with bortezomib, but not be seen in those without bortezomib.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Osteoblasts could be cultured in vitro from MM patients' BM. The proliferation and osteogenic potential of osteoblasts from MM patients were decreased. Bortezomib was a positive regulatory of osteoblasts and MM patient serum was a negative one. They both could affect the proliferation and osteogenic potential of osteoblasts.</p>

Bortezomib-based chemotherapy for patients with multiple myeloma: a single center experience / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib-based chemotherapy for 80 patients with multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 80 cases with a median age of 57 (range: 25-78) years were enrolled in the study. Bortezomib-based regimens included VD (bortezomib and dexamethasone) and PAD (bortezomib, doxorubicin and dexamethasone). 16 of the 80 patients received autologous or allo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall response (OR) rate was 80%, including a complete response (CR) of 46.3%. After a median follow-up of 25 months, the 1-year and 2-year overall survival (OS) was 81.4% and 72.9%, and the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 76% and 62.5%, respectively. The 2-year OS and PFS were 100% and 73.9 % in patients with HSCT, while both were 66% (P=0.029) and 58.7% (P=0.447) in patients without HSCT. In univariate analysis, Durie-Salmon group, ISS stage, CR and very good partial response (VGPR), and HSCT were prognostic factors for OS. Gender and extramedullary plasmacytomas were important prognostic factors for PFS. Multivariate analysis by Cox regression revealed that CR and VGPR, Durie-Salmon group A, and HSCT were prognostic factors for better OS; while male and patients without extramedullary plasmacytomas were prognostic factors for longer PFS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MM patients could benefit from bortezomib-based chemotherapy with satisfactory efficacy and safety. HSCT could improve the OS for young MM patients.</p>

Bortezomib improves progression-free survival in multiple myeloma patients overexpressing preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Significant efforts have been made to identify factors that differentiate patients treated with novel therapies, such as bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM). The exact expression pattern and prognostic value of the cancer/testis antigen preferentially expressed antigen of melanoma (PRAME) in MM are unknown and were explored in this study.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The transcript level of PRAME was detected in bone marrow specimens from 100 newly diagnosed MM patients using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the prognostic value of PRAME was determined through retrospective survival analysis. PRAME expression higher than the upper limit of normal bone marrow was defined as PRAME overexpression or PRAME (+).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-two patients (62.0%) overexpressed PRAME. PRAME overexpression showed no prognostic significance to either overall survival (n = 100) or progression-free survival (PFS, n = 96, all P > 0.05) of patients. The patients were also categorized according to regimens with or without bortezomib. PRAME overexpression tended to be associated with a lower two-year PFS rate in patients treated with non-bortezomib-containing regimens (53.5% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.071). By contrast, it was not associated with the two-year PFS rate in patients with bortezomib-containing regimens (77.5% vs. 63.9%, P > 0.05). When the patients were categorized into PRAME (+) and PRAME (-) groups, treatment with bortezomibcontaining regimens predicted a higher two-year PFS rate in PRAME (+) patients (77.5% vs. 53.5%, P = 0.027) but showed no significant effect on two-year PFS rate in PRAME (-) patients (63.9% vs. 76.9%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PRAME overexpression might be an adverse prognostic factor of PFS in MM patients treated with non-bortezomib-containing regimens. Bortezomib improves PFS in patients overexpressing PRAME.</p>

Effect of PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101 on myeloma cell lines and preliminary study of synergistic effects with other new drugs / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the proliferation inhibitory role and mechanism of PI3Kδ inhibitor CAL-101 on multiple myeloma (MM) cells, and to provide new therapeutic options for MM treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MM cell lines U266 and RPMI8226 cells were treated with various concentrations of CAL-101. MTT assay and CalcuSyn software were performed to determine the inhibitory effect of CAL-101 and the synergistic effect with PCI- 32765, SAHA (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid), BTZ (Bortezomib) on MM cells. The protein expression level of p-AKT, p-ERK, AKT, ERK and PI3Kδ processed by CAL-101 were analyzed by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CAL-101 at concentration of 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40 μmol/L could induce significant dose-dependent proliferation inhibition on U266 cells after treatment for 48 hours. The cell proliferation inhibition rates were (33.54 ± 1.23)%, (41.72 ± 1.78)%, (53.67 ± 2.01)%, (68.97 ± 2.11)% and (79.25 ± 1.92)%, respectively. Similar results were found in RPMI8226 cell line. Western blots showed high expression level of p-AKT, p-ERK, AKT, ERK and PI3Kδ in cell lines and MM primary cells. p-AKT and p-ERK protein expression levels were down-regulated significantly by CAL-101 treatment. Synergistic effect has been verified between CAL-101 and PCI-32765, SAHA and Bortezomib in U266 cell line, and PCI-32765, Bortezomib in RPMI8226 cell line with CI values less than 1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CAL-101 could inhibit proliferation of MM cell lines. High levels of p-AKT, p-ERK, AKT, ERK and PI3Kδ protein expression were observed in both cell lines and primary cells. Down-regulation of p-AKT and p-ERK probably related with the mechanism of CAL-101 in MM cell proliferation inhibition. CAL-101 has significant synergistic effect with PCI-32765, SAHA and BTZ.</p>

Efficacy comparison between standard and reduced doses of bortezomib combined with adriamycin and dexamethasone in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the efficacy and safety of standard or reduced doses of bortezomib combined with adriamycin and dexamethasone (PAD) in patients with multiple myeloma (MM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty-two newly diagnosed or refractory/relapsed patients received bortezomib [either 1.2-1.3 mg/m(2) (standard dose) or 1.0-1.1 mg/m(2) (reduced dose) on day 1, 4, 8 and 11], and adriamycin (10 mg/m(2)) plus dexamethasone (40 mg/m(2)) on day 1-4 at 3-week intervals for 1 to 6 courses. The International Myeloma Working Group Criteria were used to evaluate the response. Adverse events were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (Version 3.0).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two courses of standard dose of PAD resulted in a similar response rate of partial and very good partial complete remissions (PR) compared with reduced dose (80.0% vs 80.8%, P=0.728). Grade III- Ⅳ neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were higher with standard dose than that with reduced doses of PAD (21.1% vs11.1%, P=0.270; 10.5% vs 6.3%, P=0.619, respectively). Grade III-Ⅳ bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy, herpes zoster, fatigue or abdominal distention were significantly higher with standard dose than that with reduced dose of PAD (15.8% vs 1.6%, P=0.037; 26.3% vs 6.3%, P=0.028; 36.8% vs 14.3%, P=0.046; 15.8% vs 1.6%, P=0.037, respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Reduced dose of PAD appears to result in a similar overall response rate, but a better tolerance and safety compared with standard dose.</p>

Efficacy and safety study of subcutaneous injection of bortezomib in the treatment of de novo patients with multiple myeloma / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous injection of bortezomib in the treatment of de novo multiple myeloma (MM) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 36 MM patients treated with bortezomib, adriamycin and dexamethasone (PAD) from January 2012 to April 2013 were analyzed. Among them, 18 received improved PAD (improved PAD group) with the subcutaneous injection of bortezomib, another 18 received conventional PAD (PAD group). The efficacy and safety of two groups were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Except 4 cases can not be assessed, 32 patients were evaluated. Of 32 cases, 19(59.4%) achieved complete remission (CR) or very good partial remission (VGPR) after induction therapy, which were 61.1% and 57.1% for PAD group and improved PAD group, respectively (P=1.000). No significant difference between the time to achieve maximum effectiveness in two groups was detected. In the PAD group, one patient (5.6%) died of serious lung infection and eight (44.4%) experienced grade 3 or higher adverse events, while only one (5.6%) discontinued treatment in improved PAD group due to similar toxicity. Compared to PAD group, grade 3 or worse adverse events was significantly reduced in improved PAD group, the most common symptoms were leucopenia (33.3% vs 61.1%, P=0.086), thrombocytopenia (50.0% vs 61.1%), anaemia (27.8% vs 16.7%), infection (16.7% vs 50.0%, P=0.075), diarrhea (5.6% vs 33.3%, P=0.088), peripheral neuropathy(0 vs 27.8%, P=0.045).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The improved PAD regimen by changing bortezomib from intravenous administration to subcutaneous injection significantly reduced adverse events, improved the safety of clinical application of bortezomib without affecting curative effect, and had great progress.</p>