title: Bortezomib in relapsed multiple myeloma: response rates and duration of response are independent of a chromosome 13q-deletion.
abstract: Studies of bortezomib in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) suggested that bortezomib may be active even in the presence of adverse prognostic factors. We therefore evaluated 62 patients with relapsed/refractory MM who were treated with single-agent bortezomib, and addressed the question whether or not the negative prognostic impact of unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities may be overcome by bortezomib. By interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), a deletion of chromosome 13q14 [del(13q14)] was present in 33 patients (53%). Overall response rates to bortezomib were similar in patients with and without del(13q14) (45 versus 55%; P=0.66), and rates of complete remission (CR) near CR were also not different between the two patient populations (18 versus 14%). Three patients had a t(4;14)(p16;q32) in addition to del(13q14), and all of them had a >50% paraprotein reduction. Median duration of response was 12.3 months in patients with del(13q14) compared with 9.3 months in patients with normal 13q-status (P=0.25), and survival was also not different between the two patient populations. Patients not benefiting from single-agent bortezomib were characterized by the combined presence of a del(13q14) and low serum albumin (median survival 4.6 months). Our results provide evidence for remarkable activity of bortezomib in MM with del(13q14). Patients who do not respond to bortezomib and consecutively have short time to treatment failure and overall survival can be identified by low serum albumin in addition to del(13q14) and should be considered for bortezomib combinations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sagaster
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Odelga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zojer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Küenburg
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wieser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001897:Boronic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069286:Bortezomib; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002882:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011719:Pyrazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001897:Boronic Acids; D011719:Pyrazines; D000069286:Bortezomib