Bortezomib for chemotherapy

Bortezomib is a highly selective, reversible inhibitor of the 26S proteasome. This drug is thought to inhibit many proteins (known as proteasomes) that cancer cells need to survive and multiply. It has been shown to have anti-tumor activity in B cell malignancies.

Bortezomib is "indicated" (recommended) for single-agent use in the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least two prior therapies and are progressing on their most recent therapy. Clinical investigations have been completed or are under way to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bortezomib alone or in combination with chemotherapy in multiple myeloma, both at relapse and presentation, as well as in other cancer types.

Bortezomib (VELCADE®, formerly PS-341) was approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in May 2003 by the US Food and Drug Administration and in April 2004 by the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products of the European Union. In December 2006 the FDA approved Bortezomib for treatment of mantle cell lymphoma.

Bortezomib binds to the proteasome and does so "reversibly" (this is a chemical term that means that the bortezomib molecule can come free under different micro-cellular chemical conditions.) Normal healthy (non-cancer) cells are not as prone to damage from this binding after the Bortezomib comes off, as cancer cells are. Malignant cells suffer a breakdown even after inhibition of the proteasome for a short time.

New: Bortezomib can help with the autoimmune disease lupus, in tests in mice.