title: Bortezomib in the management of multiple myeloma.
abstract: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of plasma cells within the bone marrow, the presence of a serum and/or urine monoclonal protein, lytic bone lesions, and anemia. On a cellular level, the disease is characterized by complex interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding bone marrow microenvironment. Understanding of the relationship between malignant plasma cells and the microenvironment has sparked ongoing efforts to develop targeted therapeutic agents for treatment of this disease. The successful development of the first-in-class small-molecule proteasome inhibitor bortezomib occurred as a result of these efforts. This review focuses on the rationale for bortezomib therapy in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed and relapsed MM, important treatment-related side effects, and future directions for use of bortezomib and other, emerging proteasome inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Laubach
authors.forename: Constantine S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mitsiades
authors.forename: Teru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hideshima
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlossman
authors.forename: Dharminder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Munshi
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ghobrial
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carreau
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Richardson