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Proteasome Inhibitor — Myeloma

Bortezomib

Brand names: Velcade

Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor used to treat multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma.

Auto-extracted from the source labelling — not yet independently clinician-verified. These values were distilled from the UK SPC (or the US label where noted) but have not had a clinician sign-off. Confirm against the current SmPC before prescribing.

Adult dose

Dose: 1.3 mg/m2 body surface area per dose
Route: Intravenous - 3 to 5 second bolus injection (the fetched UK SPC is the 1 mg vial, which is for intravenous use only). The US label states the same 1.3 mg/m2 starting dose may be given by subcutaneous injection, and that the 2.5 mg and 3.5 mg UK vials are for intravenous or subcutaneous use. NEVER intrathecal - fatal.
Frequency: Twice weekly on days 1, 4, 8 and 11 of a 21-day cycle for monotherapy and for most combinations, with at least 72 hours between consecutive doses. With melphalan and prednisone the cycle is 6 weeks: twice weekly on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29 and 32 in cycles 1-4, then once weekly on days 1, 8, 22 and 29 in cycles 5-9.
SCOPE: multiple myeloma (and mantle cell lymphoma) - the indications dosed in the fetched labels, and the page's primary indication. ROUTE CAVEAT: the fetched UK SPC is the 1 mg vial, which is INTRAVENOUS ONLY - verbatim section 4.4: 'Bortezomib 1 mg powder for solution for injection is for intravenous use only, while bortezomib 2.5 mg and 3.5 mg powder for solution for injection are for intravenous or subcutaneous use.' The subcutaneous route (which the page presents as preferred) is sourced here only from the US label, verbatim: 'The recommended starting dose of bortezomib for injection is 1.3 mg/m2 administered either as a 3 to 5 second bolus intravenous injection or subcutaneous injection' and 'Bortezomib for injection is administered intravenously at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, or subcutaneously at a concentration of 2.5 mg/mL'. The 1.3 mg/m2 figure is the same for both routes. NO maxDose IS PUBLISHED: neither label uses maximum-dose wording anywhere; 1.3 mg/m2 is described as 'the recommended dose'/'the recommended starting dose', and every modification in both labels moves the dose DOWN (1.3 -> 1.0 -> 0.7 mg/m2). || REGIMENS, verbatim UK SPC 4.2. Relapsed myeloma monotherapy: '1.3 mg/m2 body surface area twice weekly for two weeks on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, in a 21-day treatment cycle... At least 72 hours should elapse between consecutive doses of bortezomib.' 'It is recommended that patients receive 2 cycles of bortezomib following a confirmation of a complete response. It is also recommended that responding patients who do not achieve a complete remission receive a total of 8 cycles.' With pegylated liposomal doxorubicin: bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, 8, 11 of a 21-day cycle, with 'Pegylated liposomal doxorubicin... administered at 30 mg/m2 on day 4 of the bortezomib treatment cycle as a 1 hour intravenous infusion administered after the bortezomib injection', up to 8 cycles. With dexamethasone (relapsed): bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 days 1, 4, 8, 11 of a 21-day cycle with 'Dexamethasone... administered orally at 20 mg on days 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, and 12 of the bortezomib treatment cycle.' Previously untreated myeloma, transplant-INELIGIBLE, with melphalan and prednisone (9 six-week cycles): 'In Cycles 1-4, bortezomib is administered twice weekly on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29 and 32. In Cycles 5-9, bortezomib is administered once weekly on days 1, 8, 22 and 29', with melphalan 9 mg/m2 and prednisone 60 mg/m2 orally on days 1-4 of the first week of each cycle. Previously untreated myeloma, transplant-ELIGIBLE induction with dexamethasone: bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 days 1, 4, 8, 11 of a 21-day cycle with 'Dexamethasone... administered orally at 40 mg on days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11', four cycles. With dexamethasone and thalidomide: bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 days 1, 4, 8, 11 of a 28-day cycle, dexamethasone 40 mg orally on days 1-4 and 8-11, 'Thalidomide is administered orally at 50 mg daily on days 1-14 and if tolerated the dose is increased to 100 mg on days 15-28, and thereafter may be further increased to 200 mg daily from cycle 2', four cycles (two more for at least partial response). Previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma (BR-CAP): bortezomib 1.3 mg/m2 'twice weekly for two weeks on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, followed by a 10-day rest period on days 12-21', six cycles, with rituximab 375 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 and doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 and prednisone 100 mg/m2 orally on days 1-5 of each cycle. || DOSE REDUCTION FOR TOXICITY, verbatim: 'Bortezomib treatment must be withheld at the onset of any Grade 3 non-haematological or any Grade 4 haematological toxicities, excluding neuropathy... Once the symptoms of the toxicity have resolved, bortezomib treatment may be re-initiated at a 25% reduced dose (1.3 mg/m2 reduced to 1.0 mg/m2; 1.0 mg/m2 reduced to 0.7 mg/m2).' NEUROPATHY (SPC Table 1): Grade 1 with no pain or loss of function - no change; Grade 1 with pain or Grade 2 - 'Reduce bortezomib to 1.0 mg/m2 or Change bortezomib treatment schedule to 1.3 mg/m2 once per week'; Grade 2 with pain or Grade 3 - withhold until resolved then 're-initiate Bortezomib treatment and reduce dose to 0.7 mg/m2 once per week'; Grade 4 and/or severe autonomic neuropathy - 'Discontinue bortezomib'. || ADMINISTRATION, verbatim: 'The reconstituted solution is administered as a 3-5 second bolus intravenous injection through a peripheral or central intravenous catheter followed by a flush with sodium chloride 9 mg/ml (0.9%) solution for injection.' FATAL ROUTE ERROR, verbatim SPC 4.4: 'There have been fatal cases of inadvertent intrathecal administration of bortezomib... Bortezomib should not be administered intrathecally.' || PAEDIATRIC, verbatim SPC 4.2: 'The safety and efficacy of bortezomib in children below 18 years of age have not been established... no recommendation on a posology can be made.' US label 8.4: 'Safety and effectiveness have not been established in pediatric patients.' || ELDERLY, verbatim SPC: 'There is no evidence to suggest that dose adjustments are necessary in patients over 65 years of age with multiple myeloma or with mantle cell lymphoma.' || Sections 4.4 and 4.8 of the SPC and sections 5 and 6 of the US label were truncated at the source-fetch limit. || PRIOR HOLD ANSWERED: this record was previously held on ROUTE - it narrowed the page to IV only from the IV-only 1 mg vial while the page presents SC as preferred. The subcutaneous route is now sourced, from the openFDA record in this same bundle, and both routes are stated with their presentations. The prior verify confirmed every number here traces verbatim to the SPC.

Dose adjustments

Renal

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.'

Hepatic

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.