Comparative Response Assessment by Serum Immunoglobulin M M-Protein and Total Serum Immunoglobulin M After Treatment of Patients With Waldenström Macroglobulinemia

Minimal residual disease status improved the response evaluation in patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia

Introduction

Minimal residual disease (MRD) has been recognized as an important prognostic factor of survival in patients with hematological malignancies. However, the prognostic value of MRD in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) remains unexplored.

Methods

We analyzed 108 newly diagnosed WM patients receiving systematic therapy and assessed for MRD by multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) using bone marrow samples.

Results

Of the total patients, 34 (31.5%) achieved undetectable MRD (uMRD). A hemoglobin level of >115 g/L (P=0.03), a serum albumin level of >35 g/L (P=0.01), a β2-MG level of ≤3 mg/L (P=0.03), and a low-risk International Prognostic Scoring System for WM (IPSSWM) stage (P<0.01) were associated with a higher rate of uMRD. Improvements in monoclonal immunoglobulin (P<0.01) and hemoglobin (P=0.03) levels were more evident in uMRD patients compared with that in MRD-positive patients. The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was better in uMRD patients compared with that in MRD-positive patients (96.2% vs. 52.8%; P=0.0012). Landmark analysis also showed that uMRD patients had better PFS compared with MRD-positive patients after 6 and 12 months. Patients who achieved partial response (PR) and uMRD had a 3-year PFS of 100%, which was significantly higher than that of patients with MRD-positive PR (62.6%, P=0.029). Multivariate analysis showed that MRD positivity was an independent factor of PFS (HR: 2.55, P=0.03). Moreover, the combination of the 6th International Workshop on WM assessment (IWWM-6 Criteria) and MRD assessment had a higher 3-year AUC compared with the IWWM-6 criteria alone (0.71 vs. 0.67).

Discussion

MRD status assessed by MFC is an independent prognostic factor for PFS in patients with WM, and its determination could improve the precision of response evaluation, especially in patients who achieved PR.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2021 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein. Clinical features include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and rarely hyperviscosity.

DIAGNOSIS

Presence of IgM monoclonal protein associated with ≥10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in bone marrow confirms the diagnosis. The L265P mutation in MYD88 is detectable in more than 90% of patients and is found in the majority of IgM MGUS patients.

RISK STRATIFICATION

Age, hemoglobin level, platelet count, β₂ microglobulin, LDH and monoclonal IgM concentrations are characteristics that are predictive of outcomes.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Not all patients who fulfill WM criteria require therapy; these patients can be observed until symptoms develop. Rituximab-monotherapy is inferior to regimens that combine it with bendamustine, an alkylating agent, a proteosome inhibitor, or ibrutinib. Purine nucleoside analogues are active but usage is declining in favor of less toxic alternatives. The preferred Mayo Clinic induction is rituximab and bendamustine.

MANAGEMENT OF REFRACTORY DISEASE

Bortezomib, fludarabine, thalidomide, everolimus, Bruton Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and bendamustine have all been shown to have activity in relapsed WM. Given WM's natural history, reduction of therapy toxicity is an important part of treatment selection.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2019 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein. Clinical features include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and rarely hyperviscosity.

DIAGNOSIS

Presence of IgM monoclonal protein associated with ≥10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in bone marrow confirms the diagnosis. The L265P mutation in MYD88 is detectable in >90% of patients and is found in the majority of IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance patients.

RISK STRATIFICATION

Age, hemoglobin level, platelet count, β2 microglobulin, and monoclonal IgM concentrations are characteristics that are predictive of outcomes.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Not all patients who fulfill WM criteria require therapy; these patients can be observed until symptoms develop. Rituximab-monotherapy is inferior to regimens that combine it with bendamustine, an alkylating agent, a proteosome inhibitor, or ibrutinib. Purine nucleoside analogs are active but usage is declining for less toxic alternatives. The preferred Mayo Clinic induction is rituximab and bendamustine. Potential for stem cell transplantation should be considered in selected younger patients.

MANAGEMENT OF REFRACTORY DISEASE

Bortezomib, fludarabine, thalidomide, everolimus, ibrutinib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and bendamustine have all been shown to have activity in relapsed WM. Given WM's natural history, reduction of therapy toxicity is an important part of treatment selection.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2017 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management

Disease Overview: Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein. Clinical features include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and rarely hyperviscosity.

DIAGNOSIS

Presence of IgM monoclonal protein associated with ≥10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in bone marrow confirms the diagnosis. The L265P mutation in MYD88 is detectable in more than 90% of patients. Risk Stratification: Age, hemoglobin level, platelet count, β₂ microglobulin, and monoclonal IgM concentrations are characteristics required for prognosis. Risk-Adapted Therapy: Not all patients who fulfill WM criteria require therapy; these patients can be observed until symptoms develop. Rituximab-based therapy is used in virtually all U.S. patients with WM and can be combined with bendamustine, an alkylating agent, or a proteosome inhibitor. Purine nucleoside analogues are widely used in Europe. The preferred Mayo Clinic nonstudy therapeutic induction is rituximab and bendamustine. Potential for stem cell transplantation should be considered in induction therapy selection. Management of Refractory Disease: Bortezomib, fludarabine, thalidomide, everolimus, ibrutinib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and bendamustine have all been shown to have activity in WM. Given WM's natural history, reduction of complications will be a priority for future treatment trials. Am. J. Hematol. 92:209-217, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

How I treat Waldenström macroglobulinemia

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell neoplasm manifested by the accumulation of clonal immunoglobulin (Ig)M-secreting lymphoplasmacytic cells. MYD88 and CXCR4 warts, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections, myelokathexis syndrome-like somatic mutations are present in >90% and 30% to 35% of WM patients, respectively, and impact disease presentation, treatment outcome, and overall survival. Familial predisposition is common in WM. Asymptomatic patients should be observed. Patients with disease-related hemoglobin <10 g/L, platelets <100 × 10(9)/L, bulky adenopathy and/or organomegaly, symptomatic hyperviscosity, peripheral neuropathy, amyloidosis, cryoglobulinemia, cold-agglutinin disease, or transformed disease should be considered for therapy. Plasmapheresis should be used for patients with symptomatic hyperviscosity and before rituximab for those with high serum IgM levels to preempt a symptomatic IgM flare. Treatment choice should take into account specific goals of therapy, necessity for rapid disease control, risk of treatment-related neuropathy, immunosuppression and secondary malignancies, and planning for future autologous stem cell transplantation. Frontline treatments include rituximab alone or rituximab combined with alkylators (bendamustine and cyclophosphamide), proteasome inhibitors (bortezomib and carfilzomib), nucleoside analogs (fludarabine and cladribine), and ibrutinib. In the salvage setting, an alternative frontline regimen, ibrutinib, everolimus, or stem cell transplantation can be considered. Investigational therapies under development for WM include agents that target MYD88, CXCR4, BCL2, and CD27/CD70 signaling, novel proteasome inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell therapy.

Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2015 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) is a lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal protein. Clinical features include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and rarely hyperviscosity.

DIAGNOSIS

Presence of IgM monoclonal protein associated with ≥10% clonal lymphoplasmacytic cells in bone marrow confirms the diagnosis. The L265P mutation in MYD88 is detectable in more than 90% of patients.

RISK STRATIFICATION

Age, hemoglobin level, platelet count, β2 microglobulin, and monoclonal IgM concentrations are characteristics required for prognosis.

RISK-ADAPTED THERAPY

Not all patients who fulfill WM criteria require therapy; these patients can be observed until symptoms develop. Rituximab-based therapy is used in virtually all US patients with WM and can be combined with alkylating agent or purine nucleoside analog (or both). The preferred Mayo Clinic nonstudy therapeutic induction is rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone. Future stem cell transplantation should be considered in induction therapy selection. Management of Refractory Disease: Bortezomib, thalidomide, everolimus, ibrutinib, carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and bendamustine have all been shown to have activity in WM. Given WM's natural history, reduction of complications will be a priority for future treatment trials.