The role of bortezomib in the treatment of lymphoma

Bortezomib is the first of the proteasome inhibitors to be used clinically. Among the various cancers susceptible to proteasome inhibition are the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Mantle cell lymphoma appears to be particularly sensitive, leading to the FDA approval of bortezomib in patients who have received at least one prior therapy. This demonstration of clinical efficacy has led to an explosion of research attempting to further understand the anti-tumor effect of proteasome inhibition and clinical investigations exploring bortezomib in combination with other agents. In this review, we will detail the clinical results and ongoing trials utilizing bortezomib in Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.