Bortezomib, ascorbic acid and melphalan (BAM) therapy for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: an effective and well-tolerated frontline regimen
Among 35 patients enrolled (median age 70 yr), responses occurred in 23/31 evaluable patients (74%) including five (16%) complete, three (10%) very good partial, six (19%) partial and nine (29%) minimal responses. Six patients (19%) had stable disease. Thus, disease control was achieved in 29 (94%) patients. Median times to first and best responses were 2 and 3 months (ranges 1-5 and 1-7), respectively. Median time to progression was 19 months and median overall survival has not been reached (range 2-23+ months). Grade 3 and 4 adverse events occurred in 17 and 5 patients, respectively; the most common were neutropenia, neuropathy and thrombocytopenia.