Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bortezomib (BTZ)-based regimens play a crucial role in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), significantly improving patient outcomes. BTZ, a proteasome inhibitor, interferes with cellular processes essential for cancer cell growth and survival, resulting in high response rates. Its use in initial and recurrent treatment strategies has been associated with extended disease control and improved long-term outcomes, contributing to overall survival. This study aimed to delineate the clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed MM patients and investigate the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PSMB6 and PSMB9 genes on the risk and response to BTZ-based chemotherapy, in comparison with the control group. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry, India, comprising 92 newly diagnosed MM cases and 92 controls. Patient selection was based on receiving first-line BTZ therapy with available outcome data. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples, followed by SNP analysis using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with appropriate validation and quality control measures. The patients were stratified into good responders and poor responders. The association of genetic polymorphism with the response to BTZ treatment was carried out using chi-square. Survival analysis was conducted using Kaplan-Meier to estimate the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: In our study, the median age of participants was 55 years, with a predominant 71.7% being males. Backache (66.3%) emerged as the most commonly reported symptom in patients followed by myalgia (53.3%) and bony swelling (12%). The GA+AA genotype in PSMB6 (rs3169950) was significantly more prevalent in poor responders compared to good responders (odds ratio (OR)=3.20, p=0.011), indicating a potential genetic marker for treatment response. The presence of the GA+AA genotype in PSMB6 gene rs3169950 was significantly higher among poor responders compared to good responders (OR=3.200, p=0.011). Likewise, the GA+AA genotype of the PSMB9 gene (rs17587) was predominantly observed among poor responders (OR=3.08, p=0.011). However, no differences were noted in survival analysis. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study represent a potential breakthrough, indicating that common genetic variants may significantly influence the development of MM and impact treatment response, providing valuable insights for predicting patient outcomes with BTZ-based therapies.