Prognostic factors and indications for treatment of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia.
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ABSTRACT: Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) is characterized by the presence of an IgM monoclonal protein regardless of its size, 10% or more bone marrow infiltration by small lymphocytes with a plasmacytoid or plasma cell differentiation. These cells usually have the following markers: IgM+, CD5-, CD10-, CD19+, CD20+ and CD23-. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia as well as other lymphoproliferative disorders such as mantle cell, marginal zone and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma must be excluded. Weakness or fatigue from anemia, fever, night sweats, or weight loss represent the most common symptoms. Hepatosplenomegaly may be a major feature. Anemia, thrombocytopenia, hyperviscosity or peripheral neuropathy may be prominent features. Systemic amyloidosis, renal insufficiency and cryoglobulinemia may also be seen. WM must be differentiated from smoldering Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (SWM) which is an intermediate disease state characterized by an IgM protein ≥3 g/dL and/or a bone marrow containing ≥10% bone marrow lymphoplasmacytic infiltration but no end-organ damage such as symptomatic anemia, constitutional symptoms, hyperviscosity, symptomatic hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy.
Project description:Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with indolent course and prolonged disease course. The first-in-class Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, ibrutinib, has shown significant activity and a distinct adverse event profile among both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory WM patients. Interestingly, clinical responses to ibrutinib have been shown to be dependent on patients' MYD88 and CXCR4 mutational status. The recent outcomes of the Phase III iNNOVATE trial showed that the combination of ibrutinib with rituximab resulted in a significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with rituximab monotherapy, which provides a novel therapeutic option in the clinical practice especially for the rituximab-refractory WM patients. However, the need for continuous drug administration along with the unique toxicity manifestations may render the patient management challenging. Furthermore, our understanding of the underlying resistant mechanisms to ibrutinib is currently being evolved.
Project description:The diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), an IgM-associated lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, can be challenging due to the different forms of disease presentation. Furthermore, in recent years, WM has witnessed remarkable progress on the diagnostic front, as well as a deeper understanding of the disease biology, which has affected clinical practice. This, together with the increasing variety of tools and techniques available, makes it necessary to have a practical guidance for clinicians to perform the initial evaluation of patients with WM. In this paper, we present the consensus recommendations and laboratory requirements for the diagnosis of WM developed by the European Consortium of Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (ECWM), for both clinical practice as well as the research/academical setting. We provide the procedures for multiparametric flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization and molecular tests, and with this offer guidance for a standardized diagnostic work-up and methodological workflow of patients with IgM monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, asymptomatic and symptomatic WM.
Project description:Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is very distinct from other indolent lymphoma subtypes: by definition it is accompanied by a monoclonal IgM gammopathy; it presents always with bone marrow infiltration and often with clinical symptoms such as neuropathy or hyperviscosity. These disease characteristics and the frequently advanced age of the WM patient pose a major challenge to the treating clinician even today. Recently, there has been not only substantial progress in our understanding of the biology of WM, but we have also significantly improved our tools to prognostify and to treat patients with this disease. This review summarizes our current knowledge about WM and aims at offering a guideline for the clinical management of patients with this lymphoma subtype, covering questions on how to manage diagnosis, prognostification and treatment based on the most recent data.
Project description:Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibition is one of the treatment standards for patients with relapsed/refractory Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) and for patients with WM who are unsuitable for immunochemotherapy (ICT). It offers deep and durable responses with a manageable safety profile that is generally favorable compared with ICT regimens. However, the limitations of the first approved BTK inhibitor (BTKi), ibrutinib, include reduced efficacy in patients lacking the characteristic WM mutation (MYD88L265P) and toxicities related to off-target activity. The risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other cardiovascular side effects are a notable feature of ibrutinib therapy. Several next-generation covalent BTKis with greater selectivity for BTK are at various stages of development. In November 2021, zanubrutinib became the first of these agents to be approved by the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of WM. Head-to-head trial data indicate that it has comparable efficacy to ibrutinib for patients with WM overall, although it may be more effective in patients with CXCR4 mutations or wild-type MYD88. In the clinical trial setting, its greater selectivity translates into a reduced risk of cardiovascular side effects, including AF. Acalabrutinib, which is pre-approval in WM, appears to offer similar advantages over ibrutinib in terms of its safety profile. Beyond the next-generation covalent BTKis, non-covalent BTKis are an emerging class with the potential to provide a therapeutic option for patients who relapse on covalent BTKis. In the future, BTKis may be increasingly utilized within combination regimens. Several ongoing trials in WM are investigating the potential for BTKi use in combination with established and novel targeted agents.
Project description:IntroductionTreatment options for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) have expanded rapidly in the last decades. However, there is no consensus on a preferred treatment. Therefore, patient preferences become increasingly important in making individualized treatment plans. Still, WM patients' priorities and perspectives regarding their treatment options are unknown. We evaluated treatment preferences of WM patients using a discrete choice experiment (DCE).MethodsA mixed-method approach was utilized for identification and selection of attributes/levels. The DCE questionnaire included five attributes: type of agent (targeted versus chemotherapy); frequency and route of administration; 5-year progression-free survival (PFS); adverse events; and risk of secondary malignancies. An orthogonal design and a mixed logit panel data model were used to construct choice tasks and assess patient preferences, respectively.ResultsThree hundred thirty WM patients participated in the project. In total, 214 (65%) complete questionnaires were included for data analysis. The 5-year PFS, followed by risk of secondary malignancies were the most important attributes for making treatment choices. Regarding side effects, patients chose to avoid neuropathy the most compared to nausea/vomiting and extreme fatigue. Patients preferred a fixed-duration treatment with IV/SC administration at the hospital over a continuous daily oral regimen at home.ConclusionThese are the first systematic data obtained on WM patient preferences for treatment. The results may help discussions with individual patients about their treatment choices. Also, these data can help design clinical trials in WM and inform health-care decision-making regarding outcomes that are most relevant to patients.
Project description:Highlights • anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies have revolutionized treatment in WM.• Rituximab is the backbone of WM treatment in combination with chemotherapy and/or PIs.• Newer monoclonal antibodies, targeting CD20 or other surface antigens are emerging.• Small molecule based therapy, such as BTK or bcl-2 inhibitors are also gaining ground.• MoAbs-based combinations are an active, fixed duration, safe and cost effective option. Monoclonal antibodies have established an important role in the treatment armamentarium of hematological malignancies, including Waldenström's macroglobulinemia. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is established as standard therapy for this unique low grade lymphoma, due to its effectiveness and safety as monotherapy, in combination with chemotherapy or other targeted therapies in WM. Newer monoclonal antibodies, targeting CD20 or other surface antigens, have shown to be effective in patients with WM. In the current review we attempt to provide an overview of the mechanisms of action of monoclonal antibodies and discuss clinical evidence that support their use in WM and their therapeutic potential.
Project description:The application of molecular genomics and our understanding of its clinical implications in the diagnosis, prognostication and treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders has rapidly evolved over the past few years. Of particular importance are indolent B-cell malignancies where tumour cell survival and proliferation are commonly driven by mutations involving the B-cell receptor and downstream signalling pathways. In addition, the increasing number of novel therapies and targeted agents have provided clinicians with new therapeutic options with the aim of exploiting such mutations. In this case report, we highlight one such success story involving the diagnostic impact of the MYD88L265P mutation in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM), its prognostic implications and effect on choice of therapy in the era of novel therapies.
Project description:The current therapeutic approach in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) is being driven by insights in disease biology and genomic landscape. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) plays a key role in signaling pathways for the survival of WM clone. BTK inhibition has changed the treatment landscape of the disease. Ibrutinib has resulted in deep and durable responses both as an upfront and salvage treatment with a manageable toxicity profile. However, the need for fewer off-target effects and deeper responses has resulted in the clinical development of second-generation BTK inhibitors. Zanubrutinib has resulted in clinically meaningful antitumor activity, including deep and durable responses, with a low discontinuation rate due to treatment-related toxicities. Cardiovascular adverse events seem to be milder compared with ibrutinib. Interestingly, the efficacy of zanubrutinib in WM is significant both for MYD88L265P and MYD88WT patients. Although the randomized, phase III ASPEN clinical trial did not meet its primary endpoint in terms of showing a superiority of zanubrutinib in deep responses compared with ibrutinib, secondary efficacy and safety endpoints underscore the potential clinical role of zanubrutinib in the treatment algorithm of WM independent of the MYD88 mutational status. Combination regimens and non-covalent BTK inhibitors are emerging as promising treatment strategies. Long-term data will determine whether next-generation BTK inhibitors are more potent and safer compared with ibrutinib, and whether they are able to overcome resistance to ibrutinib, either alone or in combination with inhibitors of other interrelated molecular pathways.