Repeated complete responses with bortezomib in a heavily pretreated primary refractory patient with light chain multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely incurable despite continued intensive research. Recent advances, especially in the area of myeloma biology, have led to better understanding of the disease process and the introduction of new therapeutic agents. Bortezomib, a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor, has demonstrated significant activity in patients with MM, including in patients with advanced-stage relapsed/refractory disease. Only limited data from prospective clinical trials are available to assess the activity of retreatment or maintenance therapy with bortezomib. The following case report presents the disease profile of a 54-year-old woman with heavily pretreated, refractory, advanced MM who exhibited repeated complete responses to bortezomib retreatment, highlighting the remarkable activity and feasibility of bortezomib as repeat therapy for this disease.