Successful Stem Cell Mobilization And Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation After Pretreatment Consisting Of Bendamustine, Prednisone And Bortezomib In Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma

Introduction: Bendamustine is a bifunctional alkylating agent with low toxicity that produces both single- and double-strand breaks in DNA, and shows only partial cross resistance with other alkylating drugs. Treatment of patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma using Bendamustine and Prednisone in comparison to Melphalan and Prednisone results in superior complete response rate and prolonged time to treatment failure (Poenisch et al, Res Clin Oncol 132: 205-212;2006). So far, however, reliable information on stem cell toxicity and mobilization of stem cells for autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) after induction treatment with a combination of bendamustine, prednisone and bortezomib (BPV) is missing.