Neurological monitoring reduces the incidence of bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy in multiple myeloma patients

Bortezomib (BTZ) is a proteasome inhibitor approved in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) is an unpredictable dose-limiting adverse event in one-third of patients. In the present study, 58 relapsed/refractory MM patients treated with BTZ were analyzed. The study's aim was to compare BIPN incidence and severity between both groups and to identify risk factors of BIPN. Twenty-four MM patients were evaluated by a neurologist periodically during BTZ treatment in order to prevent high-grade BIPN. Thirty-five MM patients previously treated with BTZ were reviewed. Seven (29%) patients in the monitored group and 19 (56%) in the historical cohort developed BIPN (p = 0.044). In the univariate analysis, factors related to BIPN in the whole series were age, number of vincristine and BTZ cycles, lactate dehydrogenase and neurological monitoring. Multivariate analysis revealed that absence of neurological monitoring (Hazard Ratio [HR]: 4.94 IC 95% [1.31–18.68], p = 0.019) and prior treatment with vincristine (HR: 1.34 IC 95% [1.04–1.74], p = 0.026) were associated with greater risk of BIPN. Baseline total neuropathy score-clinical version (TNSc) was a good predictor of BIPN, with higher risk for patients with TNSc >2 (p = 0.038). Neurological monitoring is useful for diminishing BIPN. Neurological monitoring of patients with baseline TNSc >2 should be considered.