Background and Significance: Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent B cell disorder characterized by proliferation of clonal lymphoplasmacytic lymphocytes in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, as well as liver and spleen, and secreting a monoclonal IgM Protein. WM is a rare disorder with about 1,700 cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year. There have been significant advances in the management of patients with WM in the last decade, with Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors (ibrutinib and zanubrutinib) emerging as a major treatment advancement in this disease. Currently, both BTK inhibitors are approved for the treatment of WM patients with newly diagnosed as well as relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. BTK inhibitors are effective for the therapy of WM, especially among patients with MYD88 mutation, although the response rates are lower in patients with CXCR4 mutations. In addition, these drugs can cause cardiac side effects such as atrial and ventricular arrhythmias as well as an increased risk of bleeding/bruising. Thus, these drugs can be difficult to use in patients who are older and have cardiac comorbidities.

BCL-2 overexpression is well described in a number of B cell malignancies, including WM, leading to inhibition of apoptosis of malignant cells. BCL-2 inhibition with venetoclax has been tested in patients with R/R WM and showed excellent activity with an overall response rate (ORR) of 85% and very good partial response (VGPR) rate of 19%. The therapy was overall well tolerated with no evidence of cardiac toxicity.

Given the excellent activity and tolerability of Venetoclax in WM, we are conducting a national cooperative group randomized phase 2 trial comparing ibrutinib+rituximab (IR) vs. venetoclax+rituximab (VR) in patients with newly diagnosed WM. Our hypothesis is that with this trial, we have the potential to develop a more effective therapy targeting BCL-2 for patients with untreated WM, that does not have cardiac or hemostatic toxicity. In addition, we are testing use of a fixed duration therapy with these regimens.

Study design and methods: The ongoing clinical trial () is being conducted through the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) and is enrolling at multiple SWOG, ECOG, and ALLIANCE centers throughout the US. Major inclusion criteria include 1) newly diagnosed WM confirmed by biopsy and measurable disease (≥0.5 g/dl IgM type paraprotein), 2) meeting WM-related clinical criteria to initiate therapy (cytopenias, B symptoms, bulky lymphadenopathy, neuropathy, hyperviscosity) 3) adequate blood counts (ANC >1000, HGB ≥7.5, PLT ≥50,000), 4) eGFR ≥30 ml/min, 5) adequate liver function tests (total bilirubin ≤1.5 x ULN and AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase ≤3 x ULN), 6) Zubrod performance status ≤2, 7)prior treatment with single-agent R allowed as long as >6 months prior to registration. Once enrolled the patients will be randomized 1:1 to IR vs. VR. I will be started at 420 mg daily at start of therapy while V will be given at 400mg daily during cycle 1 week 1 and then increased to 800 mg daily from cycle 1 day 8 onwards. R will be given weekly x 4 in cycles 2 and 5. Dose adjustments for both I and V can be done depending on toxicity. Therapy will be given for 2 years and then the patients will be observed off treatment. Patients with disease progression during these 2 years of therapy can cross-over to the other arm.

The primary endpoint of the study is rate of VGPR or better. With 41 eligible participants per arm (total N=82), this design has 80% power to reject the null hypothesis of a 25% VGPR rate, given the alternative of a 50% VGPR rate, with a one-sided alpha of 10%. To account for an anticipated 10% ineligibility rate, approximately 46 participants will be accrued per arm (92 total). Current enrollment stands at 15 patients. The secondary end points include ORR, complete response rate, major response rate, progression free and overall survival rates.

This content is only available as a PDF.
2025
Sign in via your Institution