(August 27, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Those newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma who are too old or infirm to undergo the most toxic treatment options can benefit by adding bortezomib to a more gentle treatment regimen, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Here are some facts about multiple myeloma:

•    It is a cancer of the plasma cells in the blood, and it usually affects those over the age of 45.

•    High-dose chemotherapy plus stem cell transplantation is one of the most effective but also the most toxic treatments.

•    This treatment is generally reserved for those under the age of 65 who are otherwise in good physical condition.

Researchers from Salamanca University Hospital treated nearly 700 patients who were newly diagnosed with multiple myeloma with a combination of the chemotherapy drug melphalan and the corticosteroid prednisone. Also, half the patients were selected to receive bortezomib.

With the addition of bortezomib, it took seven months longer for the disease to progress, and more than twice as many patients had at least some response to treatment. After following the patients for an average of just over 16 months, 45 patients who received bortezomib had died, compared with 76 among those who did not receive this drug.

Today's research highlights the benefits of adding bortezomib to standard therapy for newly diagnosed patients with multiple myeloma who are not likely to tolerate intense chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.