IWWM-12: Can first-line treatment experience of WM be improved by BTK inhibitors?

During the 12th International Workshop on Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (IWWM-12), the Lymphoma Hub was pleased to speak with Alessandra Tedeschi, Niguarda Cancer Centre, Milan, IT. We asked, Can first-line treatment experience of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM) be improved by Bruton‘s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors?

In this interview, Tedeschi discusses the relevance of BTK inhibitors alongside immunotherapies, which have shown promising results in first-line treatment of patients with WM. She notes that for specific patient populations, particularly elderly or frail individuals, BTK inhibitors can provide extended disease control, improve the quality of life, and deliver rapid responses. She also highlights that BTK inhibitors may be beneficial for patients with bulky disease and hyperviscosity and for patients with high-risk genetic characteristics such as del(17p) and TP53 mutation.

This educational resource was independently supported by BeiGene. All content was developed by SES in collaboration with an expert steering committee; funders were allowed no influence on the content of this resource.