Bortezomib causes severe pulmonary complications in Japanese patients

06-28-2006

Bortezomib causes severe pulmonary complications in Japanese patients.

According to a study from Japan, "Bortezomib is a novel proteasome inhibitor with significant antimyeloma 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," said Shigesaburo Miyakoshi at Toranomon General Hospital and collaborators in Japan. "Previous clinical studies on bortezomib, mostly in the United States 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," the authors advised.

Miyakoshi and associates published their study in Blood (Severe pulmonary complications in Japanese patients after bortezomib treatment for refractory multiple myeloma. Blood, 2006;107(9):3492-3494).

For more information, contact Shigesaburo Miyakoshi, Department of Hematology, Toranomon General Hospital, Minato-ku, 2-2-2 Toranomon, Tokyo, Japan. E-mail: s-miyakoshi@toranomon.gr.jp.

Publisher contact information for the journal Blood is: American Society of Hematology, 1900 M Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036, USA.

Keywords: Tokyo, Japan, Adverse Drug Effects, Bortezomib, Multiple Myeloma Therapy, Cancer Therapy, Chemotherapy, Oncology.

This article was prepared by Clinical Oncology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Clinical Oncology Week via NewsRx.com.