Treatment of Bortezomib Increases Osteoblast Function in Patients with Multiple Myeloma

• Published in: Blood 2005-11, Vol.106 (11), p.3457-3457
• Main Authors: Heider, Ulrike, Kaiser, Martin, Müller, Christian, Schulz, Carsten-Oliver, Jakob, Christian, Zavrski, Ivana, Eucker, Jan, Sterz, Jan, Kleeberg, Lorenz, Possinger, Kurt, Sezer, Orhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V106.11.3457.3457

Myeloma bone disease is caused by an enhanced osteoclast activation and impaired osteoblast function. Until now, there is no specific treatment to restore osteoblast activity, and anti-myeloma therapies that lead to a disease remission are usually not associated with an increase of osteoblast markers. Recently, preclinical data suggested that proteasome inhibitors may enhance osteoblast function. Bortezomib (Velcade) represents the first substance from this group which is clinically used in relapsed multiple myeloma. To evaluate whether there is clinical evidence for an osteoblast stimulation under bortezomib treatment, we analyzed serum levels of two specific osteoblast markers, i.e. bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and osteocalcin, in 25 multiple myeloma patients treated with bortezomib alone or in combination with dexamethasone. 56 percent of patients achieved a complete or partial remission. In the whole group of patients, mean serum levels of osteocalcin significantly increased from 6.3 μg/l before treatment to 10.8 μg/l after three months of therapy (P=0.024). In parallel, mean levels of BAP increased from 19.7 U/l to 30.2 U/l (P