Efficacy of Bortezomib for Maintenance therapy of Patients with Multiple Myeloma

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of chemotherapy consisted of bortezomib as main druy in maintenance therapy for recurrence of newly diagnosed MM patients. METHODS: The clinical data and outcome of 37 MM patients during 2008-2013 were analyzed retrospectively, the 37 MM patients were divided into 2 group: 19 cases including 13 cases of newly diagnosed MM with symptoms and 6 cases of relapsed refractory MM were enrolled in group A; 17 cases of newly diagnosed MM with symptoms were enrolled in group B. The patients of group A received maintenance therapy consisted of bortezomib plus dexamethasone (VD group), while the patient group B received maintenance therapy consisted of melphalan plus prednisone(MP group), then the therapeutic efficacy of 2 group was compared. RESULTS: The overall response rate(ORR) in VD groupe was 84.2%(16/19), out of which CR rate reached 42%(8/19), PR rate reached 31.6%(6/19), MR rate reached 10.5%(3/19). During median follow-up for 21.8(5-51) months, death occurred, while the ORR in MP group was 52(9/17), out of which CR rate was 23.5%(4/17), PR rate reached 23.5%(4/17), MR rate reached 5.9%(1/17). Druing median follow-up for 16.4(4-39) months, the worteity reaced 64.7%(11/17). The differencr between 2 groups was significant(P<0.05). The median OS time of patients in VD group was 21.6 months, that in MP group was 17.9 months(P<0.05). The median PFS in VD group and MP group were 13.4 and 9.4 months respectively(P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The ORR and CR rates of bortezomib maintenance therapy for newly diagnosed and relapsed / refractory MM patients are very high, and its toxicity can be controlled, therefore, the patients need maintenance therapy after remission.