Response assessment in Waldenström macroglobulinaemia: update from the VIth International Workshop

Abstract

This report represents a further update of the consensus panel criteria for the assessment of clinical response in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM). These criteria have been updated in light of further data demonstrating an improvement in categorical responses with new drug regimens as well as acknowledgement of the fact that such responses are predictive of overall outcome. A number of key changes are proposed but challenges do however remain and these include the variability in kinetics of immunoglobulin M (IgM) reduction with different treatment modalities and the apparent discrepancy between IgM and bone marrow/tissue response noted with some regimens. Planned sequential bone marrow assessments are encouraged in clinical trials.