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.
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 [...]
February 2022: Thank you!! Calgary Ed Forum Upcoming National Zoom meeting! One member's experience with a cross-border clinical trial ... during a pandemic What's new on the web site? "Grand Rounds" Thank you!! To everyone who made our end of year appeal a great success … Thank you so much for supporting the WMFC with your donation. We raised almost $40,000 in the last few months of 2021. This is a huge accomplishment for our small and volunteer-led organization. There is no greater gift you can give, and every single dollar raised supports essential WMFC initiatives. Your support has a direct [...]
Who do you know that can help us fund a cure for WM? Join the WMFC Fundraising Committee The WMFC is recruiting members for its Fundraising Committee. We depend on donors to do our important work, and each year we raise funds to support WM research. Recently, the WMFC created a volunteer Fundraising Committee to lead our fundraising efforts, and we hope you’ll consider joining us. The WMFC Fundraising Committee supports the planning, coordination, and implementation of WMFC fundraising to support strategic and program priorities. The Committee plays an essential role in determining the WMFC’s fundraising strategy, supporting events and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
A recent report on the CTV web site (https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/breakthrough-covid-19-infections-more-severe-likely-in-immunocompromised-individuals-pfizer-study-1.5687155) discussed the results of a peer-reviewed medical paper. The paper was a retrospective study of the effects of Covid-19 on a population of 1.2 million people fully-vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in the US. The CTV report included the following two paragraphs. The second of them, especially, can be construed as alarming [your editor’s clarifications added in square brackets]: Of the cohort [of 1.2 million fully-vaccinated people], 17.7 per cent were identified as immunocompromised. Some of the immunocompromising conditions in the cohort included solid tumours, kidney disease, inflammatory diseases, organ transplants and [...]
The WMFC Needs Your Help 90% of all Donations fund WM Research and Patient Support The WMFC is entirely a volunteer Foundation and is the only Canadian organization focused exclusively on WM, its patients, and their families. We run only two donation campaigns per year; right now we are asking for your support for our Year End Appeal. All donations that are received by December 31, 2021 will receive a CRA tax receipt. Our recent accomplishments and future plans include: WMFC continues to fund two Research Grants: a US $200,000 WM research grant to Dr Hunter at the [...]
Written by Stu Boland, Co-Leader of the Alberta Support Group. It was 1999 when a group of 12 skiers made their first trip to Chatter Creek, British Columbia for 3 days of back-country downhill skiing – a cat-skiing experience like no other. Living conditions were very rustic. Ski conditions were nothing short of exceptional!! The trip was organized by Cam Fraser and some of his friends. Stu Boland was invited to join the group. Stu and Cam knew each other through a mutual friend. Stu, and Cam and his wife Jane, lived a few blocks apart in Southwest Calgary. [...]
