A Phase 2 interventional study of bortezomib and dexamethasone in Multiple Myeloma and Plasma Cell Neoplasm and Neurotoxicity, sponsored by City of Hope Medical Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged Up to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-02.
Sponsored by City of Hope Medical Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
RATIONALE: Bortezomib and thalidomide may stop the growth of multiple myeloma by blocking blood flow to the cancer. Bortezomib may also stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving bortezomib together with thalidomide and dexamethasone may kill any cancer cells that remain after high-dose melphalan and stem cell transplant in patients with multiple myeloma.
PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying the side effects of giving bortezomib together with thalidomide and dexamethasone after melphalan and stem cell transplant and to see how well it works in treating patients with stage I-III multiple myeloma.
OBJECTIVES:
Primary
Secondary
OUTLINE:
Patients complete the FACT-GOG neurotoxicity questionnaire periodically. Bone marrow samples are collected at baseline and post-transplant for cytogenetic analysis by FISH.
3,760 studies on the registry are indexed under Multiple Myeloma; 769 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 45 is close to the median of 41 across 3,005 interventional studies indexed under Multiple Myeloma.
Browse Multiple Myeloma studies →City of Hope Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 677 studies on the registry; 181 are open to participants now.
Of its 31 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 12 (39%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Measurable disease
The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.
The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Creatinine clearance (CrCl)
How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)
The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hypersensitivity
An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients receive high-dose melphalan IV over 30 minutes on days -2 and -1 and undergo autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation on day 0. Patients receive filgrastim IV or SC beginning on day 5 and continuing until blood counts recover. Beginning 4 to 8 weeks after transplantation, patients receive maintenance therapy comprising bortezomib IV on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 6 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also receive oral dexamethasone on days 1 to 4. Treatment with dexamethasone repeats every month for 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Beginning 2 weeks after completion of bortezomib, patients receive oral thalidomide once daily until disease progression.
Drug: bortezomib · Drug: dexamethasone · Drug: melphalan · Drug: thalidomide · Genetic: cytogenetic analysis · Genetic: fluorescence in situ hybridization · Other: laboratory biomarker analysis · Other: questionnaire administration · Procedure: autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation · Procedure: peripheral blood stem cell transplantation
Given IV
Given orally
Given IV
Given orally
Performed on baseline and post transplant bone marrow specimens
Performed on baseline and post transplant bone marrow specimens
Baseline, post transplant and prior to start of bortezomib, every 3 months post transplant for the first year, after 6 cycles of bortezomib, every year after transplant for 2-4 years.
Completed at baseline (within 6 weeks prior to enrollment) and at 2 months post transplant and once a month after that for the first year. For the second year the questionnaire will be completed every 3 months as long as on thalidomide for the duration of the study.
Minimum dose of 2 X 10(6) CD34 + cells/kg day 0 after two days of treatment with Melphalan
Minimum dose of 2 X 10(6) CD34 + cells/kg day 0 after two days of treatment with Melphalan
Number of Participants With Adverse Events
All grade 3 and above treatment-related adverse events (AEs) during bortezomib/dexamethasone treatment cycles.
Time frame: After 4 months of maintenance therapy
One Year Overall Survival
One year overall survival estimated using the product-limit method of Kaplan and Meier. Defined as the percentage of patients alive at year one after starting treatment.
Time frame: From date of treatment initiation until death from any cause, assessed up to one year.
Count of Response in Patients Started on Maintenance Therapy
Complete Response (CR): Negative immunofixation on the serum and urine and disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas and \< 5% plasma cells in bone marrow. Very Good Partial Response (VGPR): Serum and urine M-protein detectable by immunofixation but not on electrophoresis or 90% or greater reduction in serum M-protein plus urine M-protein level \< 100mg per 24-h. Partial Response (PR): \> 50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in 24-h urinary M-protein by \> 90% or to \< 200mg per 24-h In addition to the above listed criteria, if present at baseline, a . 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas is also required. Stable Disease (SD): Not meeting criteria for CR, VGPR, PR or progressive disease. Relapse: Any of the following: Reappearance of serum or urine M-protein by immunofixation or electrophoresis Development of \> 5% plasma cells in the bone marrow. Appearance of any other sign of progression (i.e., new plasmacytoma, lytic bone lesion)
Time frame: Post-Thalidomide at 1 year.
One Year Progression-free Survival (PFS)
PFS estimated using the product-limit method of Kaplan and Meier. Defined as the percentage of patients progression-free at year one after starting treatment. International Myeloma Working Group uniform response criteria for disease progression: Increase of \> 25% from baseline in Serum M-component and/or (the absolute increase must be \> 0.5 g/dl); Urine M-component and/or (the absolute increase must be \> 200 mg/24 h; Only in patients without measurable serum and urine M-protein levels: the difference between involved and uninvolved FLC levels. The absolute increase must be \>l0mg/dl. Bone marrow plasma cell percentage: the absolute % must be \> 10%C; Definite development of new bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas. or definite increase in the size of existing bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas Development of hypercalcemia (corrected serum calcium \>11.5 mg/dl or 2.65 mmol/l) that can be attributed solely to the plasma cell proliferative disorder.
Time frame: From start of treatment initiation until disease progression, relapse or death from any cause, assessed up to 1 year.
| Milestone | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Started | 45 |
| Completed | 45 |
| Not completed | 0 |
All grade 3 and above treatment-related adverse events (AEs) during bortezomib/dexamethasone treatment cycles.
| Participants | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Leukopenia | 1 |
| Lymphopenia | 13 |
| Neutropenia | 2 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 1 |
| Cataract | 1 |
| Fatigue | 2 |
| Upper respiratory infection | 1 |
| Anxiety | 1 |
| Pain in extremity | 1 |
| Sinus bradycardia | 1 |
| Hyperglycemia | 4 |
| Hypophosphatemia | 3 |
One year overall survival estimated using the product-limit method of Kaplan and Meier. Defined as the percentage of patients alive at year one after starting treatment.
| percentage of participants | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| One Year Overall Survival | 95 (89 to 100) |
Complete Response (CR): Negative immunofixation on the serum and urine and disappearance of any soft tissue plasmacytomas and \< 5% plasma cells in bone marrow. Very Good Partial Response (VGPR): Serum and urine M-protein detectable by immunofixation but not on electrophoresis or 90% or greater reduction in serum M-protein plus urine M-protein level \< 100mg per 24-h. Partial Response (PR): \> 50% reduction of serum M-protein and reduction in 24-h urinary M-protein by \> 90% or to \< 200mg per 24-h In addition to the above listed criteria, if present at baseline, a . 50% reduction in the size of soft tissue plasmacytomas is also required. Stable Disease (SD): Not meeting criteria for CR, VGPR, PR or progressive disease. Relapse: Any of the following: Reappearance of serum or urine M-protein by immunofixation or electrophoresis Development of \> 5% plasma cells in the bone marrow. Appearance of any other sign of progression (i.e., new plasmacytoma, lytic bone lesion)
| Participants | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| CR | 20 |
| VPR | 2 |
| PR | 3 |
| Relapsed | 6 |
| Not Assessed | 9 |
PFS estimated using the product-limit method of Kaplan and Meier. Defined as the percentage of patients progression-free at year one after starting treatment. International Myeloma Working Group uniform response criteria for disease progression: Increase of \> 25% from baseline in Serum M-component and/or (the absolute increase must be \> 0.5 g/dl); Urine M-component and/or (the absolute increase must be \> 200 mg/24 h; Only in patients without measurable serum and urine M-protein levels: the difference between involved and uninvolved FLC levels. The absolute increase must be \>l0mg/dl. Bone marrow plasma cell percentage: the absolute % must be \> 10%C; Definite development of new bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas. or definite increase in the size of existing bone lesions or soft tissue plasmacytomas Development of hypercalcemia (corrected serum calcium \>11.5 mg/dl or 2.65 mmol/l) that can be attributed solely to the plasma cell proliferative disorder.
| percentage of participants | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| One Year Progression-free Survival (PFS) | 88 (79 to 98) |
Collected over Adverse events were collected over a period of 3 years and 11 months.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) | — | 9/45 (20%) | 40/45 (88.9%) |
| Event | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Myocardial ischemiaCardiac disorders | 1/45 |
| Sinus bradycardiaCardiac disorders | 1/45 |
| Gastrointestinal disorderGastrointestinal disorders | 1/45 |
| Disease progressionGeneral disorders and administration site conditions | 1/45 |
| BronchitisInfections and infestations | 1/45 |
| Peripheral nerve infectionInfections and infestations | 1/45 |
| Serum phosphate decreasedMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 1/45 |
| Chest wall painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | 1/45 |
| HeadacheNervous system disorders | 1/45 |
| Vascular disorderVascular disorders | 1/45 |
| Event | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Peripheral sensory neuropathyNervous system disorders | 33/45 |
| Hemoglobin decreasedBlood and lymphatic system disorders | 31/45 |
| Leukocyte count decreasedInvestigations | 26/45 |
| Serum albumin decreasedMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 23/45 |
| Lymphocyte count decreasedInvestigations | 22/45 |
| Neutrophil count decreasedInvestigations | 22/45 |
| Platelet count decreasedInvestigations | 20/45 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations | 19/45 |
| Serum calcium decreasedMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 18/45 |
| Blood glucose increasedMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 17/45 |
| Age, Continuous(years) | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Median | 55 (29 to 70) |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| Female | 20 |
| Male | 25 |
| Region of Enrollment(participants) | Treatment (Stem Cell Transplant, Maintenance Treatment) |
|---|---|
| United States | 45 |
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Studies of the drugs tested here: Bortezomib · Dexamethasone · Melphalan · Thalidomide