Bortezomib, a member of a new class of anticancer drugs, is active in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma that is refractory to conventional chemotherapy.

Bortezomib is superior to high-dose dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had a relapse after one to three previous therapies.

Bortezomib plus melphalan-prednisone was superior to melphalan-prednisone alone in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who were ineligible for high-dose therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00111319.)

Bortezomib-associated peripheral neuropathy seemed reversible in the majority of patients after dose reduction or discontinuation. Although severe neuropathy was more frequent in the presence of baseline neuropathy, the overall occurrence was independent of baseline neuropathy or type of prior therapy.