News

“What is my NEXT treatment?” with Dr. Carolyn Owen

2022-05-28T10:12:40-04:00

Our National Zoom meeting from May 24th, 2022, should be on every WMer's "must watch" list.  Dr. Owen presented the Canadian treatment situation for WM, concisely summarizing what is available, the pros and cons of various options, and putting her current clinical trial with Nemtabrutinib into that context. The video is available here, on our YouTube channel. Dr. Owen is Associate Professor in the Division of Hematology & Hematological Malignancies, University of Calgary, and Hematologist at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre.  She is also the Local Principal Investigator at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre for the clinical trial of Nemtabrutinib, which [...]

“What is my NEXT treatment?” with Dr. Carolyn Owen2022-05-28T10:12:40-04:00

Research Month: Interim Report from Dr. Hunter

2022-04-24T11:18:42-04:00

Your donations to the WMFC are currently funding Dr. Zachary Hunter, of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, in a project entitled "Multiomic Analysis of DNA, RNA and Epigenomic Networks in WM". In support of our upcoming Research Month, he has provided us with an interim report.  This comes in both a short form, and a long form.  The long form is available here -- but be warned, it is more than 7 pages of very technical information and graphs.  On the other hand, it provides fascinating insight into the technical challenges and depth of analysis that goes into modern genetic [...]

Research Month: Interim Report from Dr. Hunter2022-04-24T11:18:42-04:00

Help Promote Action on Rare Diseases!

2022-03-27T16:55:08-04:00

As WMers, we often talk about the challenges of getting access to new drugs, in Canada, to treat our rare diagnosis.  The next step in promoting and taking action on rare diseases needs to be done now, and CORD, the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (https://www.raredisorders.ca/), is asking for everyone’s help. And they have made it easy for us to make our voices be heard! With the expected release of the Canadian Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases later this year including $500 million per year from the federal government, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for governments, health systems, industry, academia, [...]

Help Promote Action on Rare Diseases!2022-03-27T16:55:08-04:00

Paying for BTK Inhibitors in Canada

2022-03-24T17:03:18-04:00

BTK Inhibitor drugs such as Ibrutinib, Zanubrutinib, etc, are very good drugs for the treatment of WM, especially for relapsed and refractory WM.  Unfortunately, unlike other drugs used in the treatment of WM, they are currently not generally funded by the Provinces for the treatment of WM, primarily because of their high cost.  This is despite the fact that most of these drugs are approved by Health Canada for the treatment of WM. So, unlike other drugs used in the treatment of WM, paying for these drugs becomes an issue. We have addressed the question of "How does one manage the [...]

Paying for BTK Inhibitors in Canada2022-03-24T17:03:18-04:00

WMFC has a YouTube Channel!

2022-03-23T16:58:09-04:00

We have a YouTube channel!  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYDcXKrk4Nedjj_RIz1B_NQ will take you there. This channel has collected all of the WMFC videos we’ve been able to find, into one place.  This includes the collection of videos from our 2019 Ed Forum, and many recordings of Zoom meetings, both older and more recent, that featured a guest speaker. Future WMFC videos (those recordings of Zoom meetings that feature a guest speaker, and our next Ed Forum) will be put there, too. One thing to be aware of: if you are looking at some of our older posts on this website, and you click on a [...]

WMFC has a YouTube Channel!2022-03-23T16:58:09-04:00

BRAWM Trial Update from Dr. Neil Berinstein

2022-03-13T15:38:52-04:00

On Feb. 9th 2022, Dr. Neil Berinstein of the Sunnybrook Cancer Research Institute provided us with an update on the BRAWM trial.  That trial combines the standard-of-care Bendamustine + Rituximab, but adds in a BTK inhibitor, Acalabrutinib. He also gave us an view of how Covid impacts WM patients. And there was time for Q&A on both topics. View the video here, on the WMFC YouTube channel.

BRAWM Trial Update from Dr. Neil Berinstein2022-03-13T15:38:52-04:00

Another Clinical Trial Available in Canada: Nemtabrutinib

2022-05-26T17:45:39-04:00

Nemtabrutinib (a.k.a. MK-1026 and ARQ 531) is a BTK inhibitor, but, similar to Pirtobrutinib (LOXO-305), has a reversible ("non-covalent") binding behaviour to the BTK site.  (For more information on its chemistry, see this site.) An open-label phase 2 trial of Nemtabrutinib, including WM patients, is now recruiting at locations around the world.  In particular, three (as of May 24/2022) Canadian locations are included: The Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Calgary, AB; Study co-ordinator is at (403) 521-3723 The Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC; Study co-ordinator is at (514) 340-8222, x24572 The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON; Study co-ordinator is at (613) 737-7700 (added [...]

Another Clinical Trial Available in Canada: Nemtabrutinib2022-05-26T17:45:39-04:00

Help Researchers Understand the Impact of Covid-19 on Canadian Blood Cancer Patients

2022-02-03T12:43:55-05:00

A group of Canadian researchers is carrying on where earlier COVID-19 vaccine trials left off.  They are specifically recruiting patients with blood cancers to learn more about how the various vaccines have triggered antibody responses (or not).  We have received a specific statement that people with WM are indeed eligible to participate in the study, as long as you are not currently on an anti-CD20 treatment (i.e., Rituximab / Rituxin). From their web site: People with blood cancers have weakened immune systems due to their disease and the treatments they receive.  They also have a higher risk of severe [...]

Help Researchers Understand the Impact of Covid-19 on Canadian Blood Cancer Patients2022-02-03T12:43:55-05:00

2021 American Society of Hematology Conference: WM and Covid-19, and more

2022-02-02T16:56:37-05:00

Every year, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) conference is an opportunity for the latest research from around the world to be presented.  Although conference presentations do not go through peer review (unlike journal articles), they do provide an opportunity to look into what is coming down the research pipeline. Two presentations touched on Waldenstrom's and Covid-19. https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/138/Supplement%201/3791/482596/Patients-with-Multiple-Myeloma-on-Anti-CD38-or?searchresult=1 reported on an ongoing study from Greece.  It compared the antibody response of WM and MM patients vaccinated with either the Pfizer or the Astra-Zeneca vaccines against a similar population of healthy controls.  Key quote:  "Active treatment with either rituximab or Bruton's Tyrosine [...]

2021 American Society of Hematology Conference: WM and Covid-19, and more2022-02-02T16:56:37-05:00

Journal article: BTK Inhibitors for the Treatment of WM: A Canadian Perspective

2022-02-02T16:56:00-05:00

This journal article by Dr. Frederic Larose and our frequent contributor Dr. Christine Chen compares various BTK inhibitors, and also provides comparison with and rationale for the continued use of Bendamustine + Rituximab in the Canadian context.  No new research results are presented; the article is a summary of existing knowledge, and thus can be useful to those looking to refresh their knowledge about these drugs and their histories, and the place of the drugs in the Canadian healthcare system.  . Sections include: Current treatment landscape in Canada (very readable to the lay person) Molecular rationale for targeting Bruton’s tyrosine kinase [...]

Journal article: BTK Inhibitors for the Treatment of WM: A Canadian Perspective2022-02-02T16:56:00-05:00
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