Safety and efficacy results from an international Expanded Access Programme to bortezomib for patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma: A subset analysis of the Australian and New Zealand data of 111 patients

Abstract

Background: Bortezomib has been shown to be a safe and efficacious for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Here we report a subset analysis of Australian and New Zealand data from the International Extended Access Programme for bortezomib. Methods: Patients with more than or equal to two prior lines of therapy were given bortezomib 1.3 mg/m 2 (i.v. bolus days 1, 4, 8, 11) for up to eight 21-day cycles (C). Dexamethasone, 20 mg/day p. o. on the day of, and day after, bortezomib was added after C2 for progressive disease or after C4 for stable disease. Efficacy was assessed using modified Southwest Oncology Group criteria in the intent-to-treat group. Results were c..