protease inhibitor + dexamethasone

This is a combination therapy consisting of a protease inhibitor and dexamethasone. Protease inhibitors are a class of drugs that block the activity of proteases, enzymes involved in protein degradation; in oncology, this typically refers to proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib, carfilzomib, or ixazomib. Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid corticosteroid with potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant properties. The combination is used primarily in the treatment of multiple myeloma and other hematologic malignancies. In some regimens, HIV protease inhibitors like nelfinavir have also been combined with dexamethasone for their potential to overcome resistance to standard therapies[2][4][5]. The mechanism involves synergistic cytotoxicity against malignant cells—protease/proteasome inhibition disrupts protein homeostasis leading to apoptosis, while dexamethasone induces cell death via glucocorticoid receptor-mediated pathways.