Bortezomib in the elderly patient with plasma cell myeloma who relapsed after auto-HSCT

Abstract

We present a case of 69 year-old woman with plasma cell myeloma who relapsed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The patient was treated with the bortezomib based chemotherapy (1 PAD [bortezomib, adriamycin, dexamethasone] course with continued PD [adriamycin, dexamethasone] chemotherapy). Due to the hematological toxicity, mainly thrombocytopenia stage 4 according to World Health Organization, the doses of bortezomib were delayed and gradually reduced from of 1.3 mg/m² to 1 mg/m², and then to 0.7 mg/m². In addition, the patient required a platelet transfusions. The patient achieved a partial response after 8 courses of PD. Bortezomib is safe and effective and it seems to be valuable option for heavily pretreated patients.