Bortezomib-associated peripheral neuropathy requiring medical treatment is decreased by administering the medication by subcutaneous injection in Korean multiple myeloma patients

Purpose Bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) is a significant neurotoxicity, requiring dose reduction or the delay of treatment. In a multicentre trial including 97 % Caucasians and 3 % Asians, BIPN was shown to occur less frequently in cases in which bortezomib was administered subcutaneously. Considering the different pharmacokinetics between Caucasians and Asians, we analysed BIPN according to the administration route, specifically in Korean myeloma patients. Methods We surveyed the prescribed anticonvulsants for the treatment of BIPN and analysed the data after stratifying the results by the cumulative dose of bortezomib. Exclusion criteria were as follows: treated with