Primary therapy of Waldenström macroglobulinemia with bortezomib, dexamethasone, and rituximab: WMCTG clinical trial 05-180.

Purpose: We examined the activity of bortezomib, dexamethasone, and rituximab (BDR) in patients with symptomatic, untreated Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM).

Patients And Methods: A cycle of therapy consisted of bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) intravenously; dexamethasone 40 mg on days 1, 4, 8, and 11; and rituximab 375 mg/m(2) on day 11.

Serum immunoglobulin free light chain correlates with tumor burden markers in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia.

The serum IgM level has been utilised as a marker of tumor progression and to assess response to therapy in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM). However, there are many limitations to the IgM protein level. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of known tumor burden markers and prognostic factors with serum free light chain (sFLC) in 98 patients with WM.

Immunologic and clinical effects of antibody blockade of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 in previously vaccinated cancer patients.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) functions as a negative regulator of endogenous and vaccine-induced antitumor immunity. The administration of fully human anti-CTLA-4 blocking monoclonal antibodies to advanced-cancer patients increases immune-mediated tumor destruction in some subjects. Nonetheless, patients that respond also frequently manifest serious inflammatory pathologies, raising the possibility that the therapeutic and toxic effects of CTLA-4 blockade might be linked.

Novel agents in the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a B-cell disorder characterized by bone marrow infiltration with lymphoplasmacytic cells and demonstration of an immunoglobulin M monoclonal gammopathy. Despite advances in therapy, Waldenström's macroglobulinemia remains incurable. As such, novel therapeutic agents are needed for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.