RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To analyse therapeutic regimens including bortezomib used in our centre for the treatment of multiple myeloma, to evaluate its effectiveness and safety in clinical practice in our hospital, and to assess the appropriateness of the indications described in guidelines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the period between January 2008 and December 2009 (24 months) that received treatment with a regimen including bortezomib. We analysed demographic variables (age, sex), disease characteristics (type of multiple myeloma, stage, and clinical cytogenetic abnormalities), concomitant drugs, response, and side effects of the regimen including bortezomib. RESULTS: We included 59 patients who were diagnosed with multiple myeloma (25 males and 34 females) with an average age of 63 years (range 30-82 years). The overall response rate for patients who received first-line regimens with bortezomib ranged between 69% (vincristine, carmustine, cyclophosphamide, melphalan and prednisone/vincristine, carmustine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone plus bortezomib) and 82% (bortezomib, melphalan and oral prednisone). When we analysed the salvage treatment regimens: Bortezomib-Dexamethasone, Bortezomib-Cyclophosphamide-Dexamethasone and bortezomib, doxorubicin, melphalan alternating with thalidomide, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone achieved overall response rates of 72%, 77% and 89%, respectively. Adverse reactions to bortezomib or a treatment regimen that included it occurred in 32 (54%) patients, highlighting neurotoxicity in 19 patients (32%) and gastrointestinal toxicity in 12 (20%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study show the important role of bortezomib in the treatment of multiple myeloma, with response rates and side effects comparable to published data, although the conditions for using it in clinical practice are not yet recognized in the guidelines for use.