The gain of chromosomal region 1q21 is a significant risk factor in multiple myeloma (MM) and is associated with poor prognosis. The introduction of bortezomib has notably improved outcomes for patients with MM. However, recent studies have reported conflicting results regarding the efficacy of bortezomib in mitigating the adverse effects of 1q21 aberration in these patients. To address this, in the present study, a meta‑analysis was conducted based on 6 studies encompassing 1,575 patients with MM. The prognosis of patients with 1q21+ who underwent treatment with a bortezomib‑based regimen was evaluated in terms of complete response (CR), overall survival (OS) and progression‑free survival (PFS) rates. The results demonstrated that patients with 1q21 aberration were more likely to achieve CR than those without 1q21+ under bortezomib‑based treatment [odds ratio, 0.64; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49‑0.83; P=0.0008]. However, 1q21+ remained a high‑risk factor in patients with MM even after bortezomib treatment [PFS: hazard ratio (HR), 1.72; 95% CI, 1.53‑1.93; P<0.00001; and OS: HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.58‑2.42; P<0.00001]. In conclusion, although bortezomib improved the likelihood of achieving CR in patients with 1q21+, this genetic aberration continues to be considered a high‑risk factor in patients with MM treated with a bortezomib‑based regimen.

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