Daratumumab-based treatment of monoclonal gammopathy-associated angioedema due to acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency.

Daratumumab-based treatment could control severe, treatment-refractory, life-threatening angioedema due to acquired C1-inhibitor deficiency associated with monoclonal gammopathy.

Long-term efficacy and safety of continued complement C1s inhibition with sutimlimab in cold agglutinin disease: CADENZA study Part B.

Background: Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune haemolytic anaemia mediated by the classical complement pathway (CP). Sutimlimab selectively targets complement C1s inhibiting classical CP activation. In CADENZA Part A (26-weeks), a placebo-controlled study in patients without recent transfusion history, sutimlimab reduced haemolysis, anaemia, and fatigue, and was generally well tolerated. Methods: The CADENZA study (NCT03347422) started in March 2018 (Part A) and completed in December 2021 (Part B). All patients in Part B were eligible to receive sutimlimab for up to 1 year after the last patient completed Part A. Efficacy and safety was assessed throughout Part B, until the last on-treatment visit with available assessment (LV), and after a 9-week washout. Findings: In total, 32/39 patients completed Part B; median treatment duration: 99 weeks. Similar sustained improvements in haemolysis, anaemia, and quality of life were observed in patients switching to sutimlimab and those continuing sutimlimab. Mean LV values for the combined group (ie, placebo-to-sutimlimab group and sutimlimab-to-sutimlimab group) improved from baseline for haemoglobin (≥11.0 g/dL on-treatment vs 9.3 g/dL at baseline), bilirubin (≤20.0 µmol/L on-treatment vs 35.0 µmol/L at baseline), and FACIT-Fatigue scores. Following a 9-week washout, inhibition of CP activity was reversed, and haemolytic markers approached baseline levels. Overall, sutimlimab was generally well tolerated throughout the study. No patients developed systemic lupus erythematosus or meningococcal infections. During the 9-week washout, most adverse events could be attributed to recurrence of underlying CAD. Interpretation: The CADENZA Part B results support the sustained efficacy and safety of sutimlimab for treatment of CAD; however, upon discontinuation disease activity reoccurs. Funding: Sanofi.

The impact of individual clinical features in cold agglutinin disease: hemolytic versus non-hemolytic symptoms.

INTRODUCTION: During the last decades, the pathogenesis of cold agglutinin disease (CAD) has been well elucidated and shown to be complex. Several documented or investigational therapies have been made available. This development has resulted in major therapeutic advances, but also in challenges in choice of therapy. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we address each step in pathogenesis: bone marrow clonal lymphoproliferation, composition and effects of monoclonal cold agglutinin, non-complement mediated erythrocyte agglutination, complement-dependent hemolysis, and other effects of complement activation. We also discuss the heterogeneous clinical features and their relation to specific steps in pathogenesis, in particular with respect to the impact of complement involvement. CAD can be classified into three clinical phenotypes with consequences for established treatments as well as development of new therapies. Some promising future treatment approaches - beyond chemoimmunotherapy and complement inhibition - are reviewed. EXPERT OPINION: The patient's individual clinical profile regarding complement involvement and hemolytic versus non-hemolytic features is important for the choice of treatment. Further development of treatment approaches is encouraged, and some candidate drugs are promising irrespective of clinical phenotype. Patients with CAD requiring therapy should be considered for inclusion in clinical trials.

Daratumumab monotherapy in refractory warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia and cold agglutinin disease.

ABSTRACT: Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare autoantibody-mediated disease. For steroid and/or rituximab-refractory AIHA, there is no consensus on optimal treatment. Daratumumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD38, could be beneficial by suppression of CD38+ plasma cells and thus autoantibody secretion. In addition, because CD38 is also expressed by activated T cells, daratumumab may also act via immunomodulatory effects. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of daratumumab monotherapy in an international retrospective study including 19 adult patients with heavily pretreated refractory AIHA. In warm AIHA (wAIHA, n = 12), overall response was 50% with a median response duration of 5.5 months (range, 2-12), including ongoing response in 2 patients after 6 and 12 months. Of 6 nonresponders, 4 had Evans syndrome. In cold AIHA (cAIHA, n = 7) overall hemoglobin (Hb) response was 57%, with ongoing response in 3 of 7 patients. One additional patient with nonanemic cAIHA was treated for severe acrocyanosis and reached a clinical acrocyanosis response as well as a Hb increase. Of 6 patients with cAIHA with acrocyanosis, 4 had improved symptoms after daratumumab treatment. In 2 patients with wAIHA treated with daratumumab, in whom we prospectively collected blood samples, we found complete CD38+ T-cell depletion after daratumumab, as well as altered T-cell subset differentiation and a severely diminished capacity for cell activation and proliferation. Reappearance of CD38+ T cells coincided with disease relapse in 1 patient. In conclusion, our data show that daratumumab therapy may be a treatment option for refractory AIHA. The observed immunomodulatory effects that may contribute to the clinical response deserve further exploration.

Clinical and clonal characteristics of monoclonal immunoglobulin M-associated type I cryoglobulinaemia.

Monoclonal immunoglobulin M-associated type I cryoglobulinaemia is poorly characterised. We screened 534 patients with monoclonal IgM disorders over a 9-year period and identified 134 patients with IgM type I cryoglobulins. Of these, 76% had Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM), 5% had other non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and 19% had IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). Clinically relevant IgM-associated disorders (including cold agglutinin disease [CAD], anti-MAG antibodies, amyloidosis and Schnitzler syndrome) coexisted in 31%, more frequently in MGUS versus WM/NHL (72% vs. 22%/29%, p < 0.001). The majority of those with cryoglobulins and coexistent CAD/syndrome had the molecular characteristics of a CAD clone (wild-type MYD88 in 80%). A half of all patients had active manifestations at cryoglobulin detection: vasomotor (22%), cutaneous (16%), peripheral neuropathy (22%) and hyperviscosity (9%). 16/134 required treatment for cryoglobulin-related symptoms alone at a median of 38 days (range: 6-239) from cryoglobulin detection. At a median follow-up of 3 years (range: 0-10), 3-year cryoglobulinaemia-treatment-free survival was 77% (95% CI: 68%-84%). Age was the only predictor of overall survival. Predictors of cryoglobulinaemia-related treatment/death were hyperviscosity (HR: 73.01; 95% CI: 15.62-341.36, p < 0.0001) and cutaneous involvement (HR: 2.95; 95% CI: 1.13-7.71, p = 0.028). Type I IgM cryoglobulinaemia is more prevalent than previously described in IgM gammopathy and should be actively sought.

Safety, tolerability, and activity of the active C1s antibody riliprubart in cold agglutinin disease: a phase 1b study.

ABSTRACT: Cold agglutinin disease is a rare autoimmune hemolytic anemia characterized by complement pathway-mediated hemolysis. Riliprubart (SAR445088, BIVV020), a second-generation classical complement inhibitor, is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively inhibits only the activated form of C1s. This Phase 1b study evaluated the safety, tolerability, and effect on hemolysis of riliprubart in adult patients with cold agglutinin disease. On day 1, 12 patients received a single IV dose of either 30 mg/kg (n = 6) or 15 mg/kg (n = 6) of riliprubart and were subsequently followed for 15 weeks. Riliprubart was generally well tolerated; there were no treatment-emergent serious adverse events, or treatment-emergent adverse events leading to death or permanent study discontinuation. There were no reports of serious infections, encapsulated bacterial infections including meningococcal infections, hypersensitivity, or thromboembolic events. Rapid improvements in hemoglobin (day 5) and bilirubin (day 1) were observed in both treatment cohorts. Mean hemoglobin levels were maintained at >11.0 g/dL from day 29 and mean levels of bilirubin were normalized by day 29; both responses were maintained throughout the study. Improvements in clinical markers closely correlated with a sustained reduction in the 50% hemolytic complement (CH50) throughout the study. Mean C4 levels, an in vivo marker of treatment activity, increased 1 week after treatment with either dose of riliprubart and were sustained throughout the study. In conclusion, a single IV dose of riliprubart was well tolerated, and led to rapid classical complement inhibition, control of hemolysis, and improvement in anemia, all of which were sustained over 15 weeks. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT04269551.

Not Everything Is as It Seems: A Case Series and Overview of Diseases Mimicking Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is a rare heterogeneous disease in which treatment must be initiated early to prevent irreversible organ damage and death. There are several diseases that can mimic AAV, even in the presence of positive ANCA serology and/or histological evidence of vasculitis, as demonstrated in this case series. We reflect on the diagnostic approach of patients with AAV and provide an overview of AAV-mimicking diseases that can be considered in patients with atypical disease presentation or course.

Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia; epidemiology, clinical management, outcomes and knowledge gaps.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an acquired hemolytic disorder, mediated by auto-antibodies, and has a variable clinical course ranging from fully compensated low grade hemolysis to severe life-threatening cases. The rarity, heterogeneity and incomplete understanding of severe AIHA complicate the recognition and management of severe cases. In this review, we describe how severe AIHA can be defined and what is currently known of the severity and outcome of AIHA. There are no validated predictors for severe clinical course, but certain risk factors for poor outcomes (hospitalisation, transfusion need and mortality) can aid in recognizing severe cases. Some serological subtypes of AIHA (warm AIHA with complement positive DAT, mixed, atypical) are associated with lower hemoglobin levels, higher transfusion need and mortality. Currently, there is no evidence-based therapeutic approach for severe AIHA. We provide a general approach for the management of severe AIHA patients, incorporating monitoring, supportive measures and therapeutic options based on expert opinion. In cases where steroids fail, there is a lack of rapidly effective therapeutic options. In this era, numerous novel therapies are emerging for AIHA, including novel complement inhibitors, such as sutimlimab. Their potential in severe AIHA is discussed. Future research efforts are needed to gain a clearer picture of severe AIHA and develop prediction models for severe disease course. It is crucial to incorporate not only clinical characteristics but also biomarkers that are associated with pathophysiological differences and severity, to enhance the accuracy of prediction models and facilitate the selection of the optimal therapeutic approach. Future clinical trials should prioritize the inclusion of severe AIHA patients, particularly in the quest for rapidly acting novel agents.

Evaluation and Management of Bing-Neel Syndrome.

Bing-Neel syndrome is a rare manifestation of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM), which is caused by infiltration of the malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells in the central nervous system. Patients can present with a diverse range of neurologic symptoms, and differentiation with other comorbidities seen in WM, such as immunoglobulin M-related polyneuropathy, can be challenging. Both the rarity of this disorder and the heterogeneity of the clinical presentation often cause a significant diagnostic delay with the risk of permanent neurologic damage. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of Bing-Neel syndrome.

Report of consensus panel 1 from the 11th International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia on management of symptomatic, treatment-naïve patients.

Consensus Panel 1 (CP1) of the 11th International Workshop on Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (IWWM-11) was tasked with updating guidelines for the management of symptomatic, treatment-naïve patients with WM. The panel reiterated that watchful waiting remains the gold standard for asymptomatic patients without critically elevated IgM or compromised hematopoietic function. For first-line treatment, chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) regimens such as dexamethasone, cyclophosphamide, rituximab (DRC), or bendamustine, rituximab (Benda-R) continue to play a central role in managing WM, as they are effective, of fixed duration, generally well-tolerated, and affordable. Covalent BTK inhibitors (cBTKi) offer a continuous, generally well-tolerated alternative for the primary treatment of WM patients, particularly those unsuitable for CIT. In a Phase III randomized trial updated at IWWM-11, the second-generation cBTKi, zanubrutinib, was less toxic than ibrutinib and induced deeper remissions, thus categorizing zanubrutinib as a suitable treatment option in WM. While the overall findings of a prospective, randomized trial updated at IWWM-11 did not show superiority of fixed duration rituximab maintenance over observation following attainment of a major response to Benda-R induction, a subset analysis showed benefit in patients >65 years and those with a high IPPSWM score. Whenever possible, the mutational status of MYD88 and CXCR4 should be determined before treatment initiation, as alterations in these 2 genes predict sensitivity towards cBTKi activity. Treatment approaches for WM-associated cryoglobulins, cold agglutinins, AL amyloidosis, Bing-Neel syndrome (BNS), peripheral neuropathy, and hyperviscosity syndrome follow the common principle of reducing tumor and abnormal protein burden rapidly and deeply to improve symptoms. In BNS, ibrutinib can be highly active and produce durable responses. In contrast, cBTKi are not recommended for treating AL amyloidosis. The panel emphasized that continuous improvement of treatment options for symptomatic, treatment-naïve WM patients critically depends on the participation of patients in clinical trials, whenever possible.

Bendamustine plus rituximab for the treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia: Patient outcomes and impact of bendamustine dosing.

Bendamustine and rituximab (BR) therapy is commonly used in the treatment of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM). The impact dose of Bendamustine dose on response and survival outcomes is not well-established, and the impact of its use in different treatment settings is not clear. We aimed to report response rates and survival outcomes following BR, and clarify the impact of depth of response and bendamustine dose on survival. A total of 250 WM patients treated with BR in the frontline or relapsed settings were included in this multicenter, retrospective cohort analysis. Rates of partial response (PR) or better differed significantly between the frontline and relapsed cohorts (91.4% vs 73.9%, respectively; p < 0.001). Depth of response impacted survival outcomes: two-year predicted PFS rates after achieving CR/VGPR vs PR were 96% versus 82%, respectively (p = 0.002). Total bendamustine dose was predictive of PFS: in the frontline setting, PFS was superior in the group receiving ≥1000 mg/m2 compared with those receiving 800-999 mg/m2 (p = 0.04). In the relapsed cohort, those who received doses of <600 mg/m2 had poorer PFS outcomes compared with those who received ≥600 mg/m2 (p = 0.02). Attaining CR/VGPR following BR results in superior survival, and total bendamustine dose significantly impacts response and survival outcomes, in both frontline and relapsed settings.

C1-inhibitor treatment in patients with severe complement-mediated autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Complement-mediated (CM) autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is characterized by the destruction of red blood cells (RBCs) by autoantibodies that activate the classical complement pathway. These antibodies also reduce transfusion efficacy via the lysis of donor RBCs. Because C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) is an endogenous regulator of the classical complement pathway, we hypothesized that peritransfusional C1-INH in patients with severe CM-AIHA reduces complement activation and hemolysis, and thus enhances RBC transfusion efficacy. We conducted a prospective, single-center, phase 2, open-label trial (EudraCT2012-003710-13). Patients with confirmed CM-AIHA and indication for the transfusion of 2 RBC units were eligible for inclusion. Four IV C1-INH doses (6000, 3000, 2000, and 1000 U) were administered with 12-hour intervals around RBC transfusion. Serial blood samples were analyzed for hemolytic activity, RBC opsonization, complement activation, and inflammation markers. Ten patients were included in the study. C1-INH administration increased plasma C1-INH antigen and activity, peaking at 48 hours after the first dose and accompanied by a significant reduction of RBC C3d deposition. Hemoglobin levels increased briefly after transfusion but returned to baseline within 48 hours. Overall, markers of hemolysis, inflammation, and complement activation remained unchanged. Five grade 3 and 1 grade 4 adverse event occurred but were considered unrelated to the study medication. In conclusion, peritransfusional C1-INH temporarily reduced complement activation. However, C1-INH failed to halt hemolytic activity in severe transfusion-dependent-CM-AIHA. We cannot exclude that posttransfusional hemolytic activity would have been even higher without C1-INH. The potential of complement inhibition on transfusion efficacy in severe CM-AIHA remains to be determined.

Diagnostics in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia: a consensus statement of the European Consortium for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia.

The diagnosis of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), an IgM-associated lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, can be challenging due to the different forms of disease presentation. Furthermore, in recent years, WM has witnessed remarkable progress on the diagnostic front, as well as a deeper understanding of the disease biology, which has affected clinical practice. This, together with the increasing variety of tools and techniques available, makes it necessary to have a practical guidance for clinicians to perform the initial evaluation of patients with WM. In this paper, we present the consensus recommendations and laboratory requirements for the diagnosis of WM developed by the European Consortium of Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (ECWM), for both clinical practice as well as the research/academical setting. We provide the procedures for multiparametric flow cytometry, fluorescence in situ hybridization and molecular tests, and with this offer guidance for a standardized diagnostic work-up and methodological workflow of patients with IgM monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, asymptomatic and symptomatic WM.

Patient preferences regarding treatment options for Waldenström's macroglobulinemia: A discrete choice experiment.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment options for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) have expanded rapidly in the last decades. However, there is no consensus on a preferred treatment. Therefore, patient preferences become increasingly important in making individualized treatment plans. Still, WM patients' priorities and perspectives regarding their treatment options are unknown. We evaluated treatment preferences of WM patients using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). METHODS: A mixed-method approach was utilized for identification and selection of attributes/levels. The DCE questionnaire included five attributes: type of agent (targeted versus chemotherapy); frequency and route of administration; 5-year progression-free survival (PFS); adverse events; and risk of secondary malignancies. An orthogonal design and a mixed logit panel data model were used to construct choice tasks and assess patient preferences, respectively. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty WM patients participated in the project. In total, 214 (65%) complete questionnaires were included for data analysis. The 5-year PFS, followed by risk of secondary malignancies were the most important attributes for making treatment choices. Regarding side effects, patients chose to avoid neuropathy the most compared to nausea/vomiting and extreme fatigue. Patients preferred a fixed-duration treatment with IV/SC administration at the hospital over a continuous daily oral regimen at home. CONCLUSION: These are the first systematic data obtained on WM patient preferences for treatment. The results may help discussions with individual patients about their treatment choices. Also, these data can help design clinical trials in WM and inform health-care decision-making regarding outcomes that are most relevant to patients.

Treatment of relapsed and refractory Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.

Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare type of indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that remains incurable. Several effective agents such as monoclonal antibodies (in combination with chemotherapy), Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors, proteasome inhibitors, and BCL2 inhibitors are (becoming) available for the treatment of relapsed and refractory WM. There is however no consensus on a preferred treatment in the relapsed setting. Choice of therapy in relapsed WM should be individualized by taking several treatment and patients characteristics into account, such as treatment duration, toxicity, age, comorbidities and MYD88L265P and CXCR4 mutational status. Due to better understanding of WM biology and the arrival of novel anti-lymphoma agents, the therapeutic options are increasing. Non-cytotoxic and fixed duration regimens, such as those explored in other indolent NHLs should be the focus of future clinical trials in WM.

Dutch Physician's Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment of Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia Before and After the Implementation of a National Guideline.

Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), a rare low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), has a distinct clinical presentation and different treatment-related side effects compared with other NHL. Currently, a wide variety of therapeutic agents are available for the treatment of WM but there is no consensus on optimal treatment in first line and/or at relapse. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the current knowledge and perspectives of hematologists on diagnosis and treatment of WM. Also, we compare these results to a similar survey done before the publication of the first Dutch national guideline, in order to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a national guideline. A link to an online survey was sent out to all registered hematologists and hemato-oncologists in the Netherlands with the request to participate. The survey contained questions regarding the preferred diagnostic and treatment methods in patients with WM as well as treatment goals. We also compared physicians preferred treatment goals to those of patients (as studied in a recent nationwide patient questionnaire). Ninety-five responses (30% response rate) were obtained, out of which 82 (86%) surveys were complete. The respondents most commonly used dexamethasone-rituximab-cyclophosphamide as first-line treatment. For second-line treatment, bendamustine with rituximab and ibrutinib monotherapy were the most frequently applied. Compared with the initial survey, serum IgM M-protein was determined in all cases, MYD88 mutation analysis was currently widely implemented, prevention of an IgM "flare" was uniformly managed by the respondents and use of rituximab-cyclophosphamide-vincristine-prednisone was entirely abandoned. Physicians differed somewhat from patients with regard to most important treatment goals. The approach to diagnostic methods and treatment options in WM was more consistent with international guidelines and was more homogeneous after implementation of the national guideline. These data indicate an increase in knowledge on WM diagnosis and treatment. This may have resulted from implementation of a local guideline or the global rise in awareness and attention for WM.

IgM monoclonal gammopathies of clinical significance: diagnosis and management.

IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance is a pre-malignant condition for Waldenström macroglobulinemia and other B-cell malignancies, defined by asymptomatic circulating IgM monoclonal protein below 30 g/L with a lymphoplasmacytic bone marrow infiltration of less than 10%. A significant proportion, however, develop unique immunological and biochemical manifestations related to the monoclonal protein itself in the absence of overt malignancy and are termed IgM-related disorders or, more recently, monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance. The indication for treatment in affected patients is dictated by the pathological characteristics of the circulating IgM rather than the tumor itself. The clinical workup and treatment options vary widely and differ from those for Waldenström macroglobulinemia. The aim of this review is to alert clinicians to IgM monoclonal gammopathy of clinical significance and to provide practical guidance on when to screen for these phenotypes. We discuss clinical characteristics, the underlying clonal profile, diagnostic workup and treatment considerations for five important subtypes: cold agglutinin disease, type I and II cryoglobulinemia, IgM-associated peripheral neuropathy, Schnitzler syndrome and IgM-associated AL amyloidosis. The inhibition of the pathogenic effects of the IgM has led to great success in cold agglutinin disease and Schnitzler syndrome, whereas the other treatments are centered on eradicating the underlying clone. Treatment approaches in cryoglobulinemia and IgM-associated peripheral neuropathy are the least well developed. A multidisciplinary approach is required, particularly for IgM-related neuropathies and Schnitzler syndrome. Future work exploring novel, clone-directed agents and pathogenic IgM-directed therapies is welcomed.