Multiple Myeloma Forums

Researchers from France have reported encouraging results with adding Velcade® (bortezomib) to high-dose melphalan followed by autologus stem cell infusion for initial treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. The details of this Phase II study appeared in an early online publication in Blood on November 2, 2009.

Velcade is the first in a new class of anticancer agents known as proteasome inhibitors and is being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of patients with refractory hematologic malignancies, especially multiple myeloma. As a single agent, Velcade has a response rate of approximately 30%, and 4-5% of these responses are complete. A recent study has also shown that Velcade produces a 90% response rate in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma.

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