Bortezomib therapy for refractory/relapsed multiple
myeloma
Cavo M
Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology
“Seràgnoli”, University of Bologna, Italy
The proteasome is a multienzyme complex found in all eukaryotic cells that functions to degrade most short-lived and long-lived intracellular proteins after their conjugation to ubiquitin. Many of these proteins are involved in cell cycle regulation, and their timely degradation after polyubiquitination is essential for normal cell cycling, function and survival. Inhibition of proteasome activity results in accumulation of these proteins within the cells, with subsequent cell-cycle arrest, apoptosis and downregulation of angiogenesis. [>Read full article in PDF]