RESUMO
Objective To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma(MM).Methods Fourteen patients(11 males,3 females,mean age 65.1 yrs)with MM,who were hospitalized in the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College from June 2005 to July 2007,were treated with bortezomib(1.3 mg/m2)by intravenous bolus twice a week for 2 weeks in a 21-day cycle,followed by an intravenous injection of dexamethasone 20～40 mg.The patients received one to eight courses.Response to bortezomib was evaluated according to the criteria of the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation(EBMT)before initiation of each bortezomib chemotherapy course.Adverse effects were graded according to the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria,version 3.0.Results The median follow-up duration from the begining of bortezomib treatment was 3.5 months.Clinical reponse was observed in 12 patients(86%),including complete response in 2,nearly complete response in 6,partial response in 3,minimal response in 1 and progressive disease in 2.The most common adverse effects were fatigue(10 patients),peripheral neuropathy(7 patients),gastrocnemius myalgia(2 patients),gastrointestinal symptoms(4 patients),thrombocytopenia(5 patients),disseminated herpes zoster(1 patient)and refractory hyponatremia(1 patient).The adverse effects were subsided on routine supportive care.Conclusion Bortezomib in combination with dexamethasone is an effective therapy with a high response rate for MM patients.All the adverse effects are more than common but are manageable with symptomatic therapy and(or)dose modification.