posted by rob_cos on yahoo late last nite. anyone have thoughts on what to make of it? mlnm has made no mention of it. thanks. sales
bloodjournal.org
Submitted November 16, 2005
Accepted December 29, 2005
Severe pulmonary complications in Japanese patients after bortezomib treatment for refractory multiple myeloma
Shigesaburo Miyakoshi*, Masahiro Kami, Koichiro Yuji, Tomoko Matsumura, Masaaki Takatoku, Makoto Sasaki, Hiroto Narimatsu, Takeshi Fujii, Masateru Kawabata, Shuichi Taniguchi, Keiya Ozawa, and Kazuo Oshimi
Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Division of Exploratory Research, Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Department of Hematology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Exploratory Research, Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan
Division of Hematology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Department of Pathology, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
* Corresponding author; email: s-miyakoshi@dance.ocn.ne.jp.
Bortezomib is a novel proteasome inhibitor with significant anti-myeloma activity. Its frequent adverse effects are manageable, including gastrointestinal symptoms, peripheral neuropathy, and thrombocytopenia. Severe lung toxicity has not previously been reported. Between June 2004 and September 2005, 13 Japanese patients with multiple myeloma were treated with bortezomib in Toranomon Hospital, Juntendo University School of Medicine, and Jichi Medical School. Four of them developed severe pulmonary complications, and two died of respiratory failure without progression of underlying disease. To our knowledge, this is the first report on life-threatening pulmonary adverse effects after bortezomib therapy. Previous clinical studies on bortezomib, mostly in the US and Europe, have shown low incidences of pulmonary adverse effects. Our study suggests that bortezomib can cause serious lung injury and that its incidence might vary among different ethnicities. Clinicians need to be alert to the possibility. |
