Bortezomib inhibits cell-cell adhesion and cell migration and enhances epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced cell death in squamous cell cancer

Incorporating bortezomib into the treatment of lung cancer

Bortezomib, a small-molecule proteasome inhibitor, has activity in lung cancer both as a single agent and in combination with agents commonly used in lung cancer. The ability of bortezomib to favorably modulate the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins, along with its moderate toxicity as a single agent, provides the basis for its combination with cytotoxic agents in the treatment of lung cancer. In non-small cell lung cancer, bortezomib as a single agent has limited activity but in combination with chemotherapy has shown encouraging activity without significantly adding to toxicity. Bortezomib as a single agent has shown minimal activity in small cell lung cancer. Although the role of bortezomib in lung cancer is uncertain, it is likely to have its greatest clinical benefit when given in combination with other therapeutics. Ongoing studies are focused on optimizing the scheduling of bortezomib with chemotherapy, investigating its combination with targeted agents and radiation, and examining its efficacy in a specific subgroup, bronchioloalveolar carcinoma.

Understanding multiple myeloma pathogenesis in the bone marrow to identify new therapeutic targets

Multiple myeloma is a plasma cell malignancy characterized by complex heterogeneous cytogenetic abnormalities. The bone marrow microenvironment promotes multiple myeloma cell growth and resistance to conventional therapies. Although multiple myeloma remains incurable, novel targeted agents, used alone or in combination, have shown great promise to overcome conventional drug resistance and improve patient outcome. Recent oncogenomic studies have further advanced our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of multiple myeloma, providing the framework for new prognostic classification and identifying new therapeutic targets.