Ibrutinib is a highly active and tolerable therapy for symptomatic, relapsed, or refractory patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) and a preferable option for use in previously treated patients, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (2020;JCO2000555. doi:10.1200/JCO.20.00555).

If you’ve ever had questions about clinical trials, this issue will help clarify various aspects of them, from both the doctor’s and the patient’s perspectives. It will be obvious that medical as well as personal reasons need to be considered before making the plunge.

BTK inhibitors have transformed the treatment of patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemi; with 4 agents under examination in the space, selection will depend on availability, toxicity, convenience, and cost.

The International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation (IWMF) Board of Trustees has reviewed and approved funding an additional $500,000 to renew Dr. Steve Treon's legacy research project.

Making Sense of the Science of WM sets out a framework for patients to understand the basic genetic concepts behind the mutations that are important in WM, to appreciate the ways in which these mutations impact the signaling systems that control the behavior of WM cells, and to recognize how these mutations are changing the landscape of therapies for WM.

Steven P. Treon, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, discusses Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), which is activated during severe COVID-19 infection. Patients with the coronavirus and chronic lymphocytic leukemia who remained on the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib had a mild disease course, with decreased C-reactive protein and improved oxygenation. Clinical trials to validate the role of BTK inhibitors in treating COVID-19–related pulmonary distress are now underway.

Dr. Steven Treon delivered this on-line lecture on August 5, 2020 for the benefit of the WMFC Toronto Support Group. It is our privilige to share it with the entire WM community.  It focuses on the role of BTK Inhibitors in the treatment of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia, and the advances being made based on the latest research.

The International Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Foundation invites you to join us for the first installment in our 2020 IWMF Global Educational Webinar series.

When Peter DeNardis was diagnosed with Waldenstrom macroglobulinema (WM) 17 years ago, all he knew was that he had an incurable cancer. He had never heard of this rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A married father of three in his early 40s, DeNardis worried about how his illness would impact his family. How would his passing affect them emotionally and financially?

In the light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Workshop on Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (IWWM) Treatment Recommendations Panel felt the need to provide a consensus statement for the management of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) patients during this challenging time.