Bortezomib
Brand names: Velcade
Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.
Adult dose
Dose adjustments
UK SPC 4.2, verbatim: 'The pharmacokinetics of bortezomib are not influenced in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment (Creatinine Clearance [CrCL] > 20 ml/min/1.73 m2); therefore, dose adjustments are not necessary for these patients. It is unknown if the pharmacokinetics of bortezomib are influenced in patients with severe renal impairment not undergoing dialysis (CrCL < 20 ml/min/1.73 m2). Since dialysis may reduce bortezomib concentrations, bortezomib should be administered after the dialysis procedure.'
UK SPC 4.2, verbatim: 'Patients with mild hepatic impairment do not require a dose adjustment and should be treated per the recommended dose. Patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment should be started on bortezomib at a reduced dose of 0.7 mg/m2 per injection during the first treatment cycle, and a subsequent dose escalation to 1.0 mg/m2 or further dose reduction to 0.5 mg/m2 may be considered based on patient tolerability.' SPC Table 6 defines the grades by bilirubin and SGOT (AST): mild = bilirubin <= 1.0 x ULN with AST > ULN, or bilirubin > 1.0-1.5 x ULN with any AST (no starting-dose change); moderate = bilirubin > 1.5-3 x ULN, any AST; severe = bilirubin > 3 x ULN, any AST - both reduced to 0.7 mg/m2 in the first cycle. US label highlights: 'Hepatic Impairment: Use a lower starting dose for patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.'
Dose auto-extracted from UK Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) via the eMC; US FDA prescribing information (openFDA / DailyMed) — cross-check; US labelling may differ from UK — not yet clinician-verified. Always confirm against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance, to boron or to any of the excipients (UK SPC 4.3). The US label words this as 'hypersensitivity (not including local reactions) to bortezomib, boron, or mannitol. Reactions have included anaphylactic reactions'
- Acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary and pericardial disease (UK SPC 4.3)
- Intrathecal administration - US label 4, verbatim: 'Bortezomib is contraindicated for intrathecal administration. Fatal events have occurred with intrathecal administration of bortezomib.' UK SPC 4.4 states the same as a warning: 'There have been fatal cases of inadvertent intrathecal administration of bortezomib.'
- UK SPC 4.3 adds: 'When bortezomib is given in combination with other medicinal products, refer to their Summaries of Product Characteristics for additional contraindications' - in particular thalidomide is contraindicated in pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential unless the thalidomide pregnancy prevention programme conditions are met
Side effects
- UK SPC 4.8 summary, verbatim: 'The most commonly reported adverse reactions during treatment with bortezomib are nausea, diarrhoea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, pyrexia, thrombocytopenia, anaemia, neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy (including sensory), headache, paraesthesia, decreased appetite, dyspnoea, rash, herpes zoster and myalgia.'
- UK SPC 4.8 serious reactions, verbatim: 'Serious adverse reactions uncommonly reported during treatment with bortezomib include cardiac failure, tumour lysis syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, acute diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disorders and rarely autonomic neuropathy.'
- Very common (>=1/10) haematological: thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, anaemia (UK SPC Table 7). Common: leukopenia, lymphopenia. Uncommon: pancytopenia, febrile neutropenia, coagulopathy, leukocytosis, lymphadenopathy, haemolytic anaemia
- Infections - common: herpes zoster (including disseminated and ophthalmic), pneumonia, herpes simplex, fungal infection. Uncommon: bacterial and viral infections, sepsis including septic shock, bronchopneumonia, herpetic meningoencephalitis, bacteraemia, cellulitis
- Peripheral neuropathy is the dose-limiting toxicity and drives the SPC Table 1 dose-modification ladder (reduce to 1.0 mg/m2, then 0.7 mg/m2 once weekly, then discontinue)
- Thrombocytopenia is transient and cycle-dependent - UK SPC 4.4: 'Platelets were lowest at day 11 of each cycle of bortezomib treatment and typically recovered to baseline by the next cycle. There was no evidence of cumulative thrombocytopenia.' Mean platelet nadir was approximately 40% of baseline in single-agent myeloma studies and 50% in the mantle cell lymphoma study
- Gastrointestinal toxicity is very common - UK SPC 4.4: 'Gastrointestinal toxicity, including nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting and constipation are very common with bortezomib treatment. Cases of ileus have been uncommonly reported.'
- Gastrointestinal and intracerebral haemorrhage have been reported in association with bortezomib treatment (UK SPC 4.4)
- US label most common reactions (incidence >=20%): 'nausea, diarrhea, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, neuralgia, anemia, leukopenia, constipation, vomiting, lymphopenia, rash, pyrexia, and anorexia'
- US label warnings also list hypotension, cardiac toxicity, pulmonary toxicity, posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, tumour lysis syndrome, hepatic toxicity and thrombotic microangiopathy
Monitoring
- Full blood count before each new cycle. UK SPC, before a new cycle of bortezomib with melphalan and prednisone: 'Platelet counts should be >= 70 x 10^9/l and the absolute neutrophils count should be >= 1.0 x 10^9/l' and 'Non-haematological toxicities should have resolved to Grade 1 or baseline'
- Previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma, before a new cycle (UK SPC): 'Platelet counts should be >= 100,000 cells/microlitre and the absolute neutrophils count (ANC) should be >= 1,500 cells/microlitre'; 'Platelet counts should be >= 75,000 cells/microlitre in patients with bone marrow infiltration or splenic sequestration'; 'Haemoglobin >= 8 g/dL'
- Withhold a dose if, on a dosing day other than Day 1, platelets are <= 30 x 10^9/l or ANC <= 0.75 x 10^9/l (myeloma with melphalan/prednisone), or platelets <25,000 cells/microlitre or ANC <750 cells/microlitre (mantle cell lymphoma)
- Peripheral neuropathy assessment before each dose - the SPC Table 1 modification ladder is graded on symptoms and function (NCI CTCAE v4.0)
- US label 5.7: 'Thrombocytopenia and Neutropenia: Monitor complete blood counts regularly throughout treatment.'
- US label 5.9: 'Hepatic Toxicity: Monitor hepatic enzymes during treatment. Interrupt bortezomib therapy to assess reversibility.'
- US label 5.8: 'Tumor Lysis Syndrome: Closely monitor patients with high tumor burden.'
- US label 5.3: 'Cardiac Toxicity: Worsening of and development of cardiac failure has occurred. Closely monitor patients with existing heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.'
- US label 5.4: 'Pulmonary Toxicity: Acute respiratory syndromes have occurred. Monitor closely for new or worsening symptoms and consider interrupting bortezomib therapy.' 5.5: 'Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome: Consider MRI imaging for onset of visual or neurological symptoms; discontinue bortezomib if suspected.'
- Monitor patients who become constipated closely (UK SPC 4.4)
- With strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, US label 7.1: 'Monitor patients for signs of bortezomib toxicity and consider a bortezomib dose reduction'; avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers
Clinical monograph
How it works
It reversibly inhibits the 26S proteasome, disrupting protein degradation and accumulating regulatory proteins that trigger cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in malignant plasma cells.
Prescribing in practice
- Peripheral neuropathy is a common dose-limiting toxicity, so assess neurological symptoms before each cycle and adjust dosing accordingly.
- It is usually given by subcutaneous injection, which reduces neuropathy compared with intravenous use, in repeated cycles.
- Herpes zoster reactivation and thrombocytopenia are recognised, so antiviral prophylaxis and blood count monitoring are advised.
Monitoring
Monitor full blood count and neurological symptoms before each dose, and watch for signs of herpes zoster reactivation.
Counselling the patient
- Report numbness, tingling or burning in the hands or feet promptly.
- Antiviral medicine is often given to prevent shingles during treatment.
- Stay well hydrated and report dizziness, as blood pressure can drop.
Evidence & guidelines
Bortezomib improved outcomes in multiple myeloma in landmark trials and is recommended by NICE within several treatment regimens.
Reference: SPA Study (Moreau et al. Lancet Oncol 2011); NICE TA311; NICE TA573; BSH Myeloma Guidelines 2017; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. The structured dose values shown have been reviewed by a clinician. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- SMART Risk Score for Recurrent CVD · Cardiovascular Risk
- PCSK9 Inhibitor Eligibility Assessment · Lipid Management
- Immune-Related Adverse Events (irAE) -- GI Toxicity Colitis Grading · Oncology-Related GI
- irAE Hepatitis Grading (CTCAE) · Immunotherapy
- International Staging System (ISS) for Multiple Myeloma · Multiple Myeloma
- Revised ISS (R-ISS) for Multiple Myeloma · Haematological Malignancy
- Major Haemorrhage / Massive Transfusion · BCSH; RCOA; RCEM; RCS — BCSH Guidelines
- Anaemia Investigation · BSH / NICE
- Splenomegaly Workup · BSH; BMJ Best Practice
- Deep Vein Thrombosis Diagnosis and Treatment · NICE CG144 / NICE NG158
- Sickle Cell Crisis · BSH 2021 / BCSH
- Neutropenic Sepsis · NICE CG151 2012 / ESMO