Transformed Waldenström Macroglobulinemia: Update on Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment

Abstract

Histological transformation (HT) to an aggressive lymphoma results from a rare evolution of Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM). A higher incidence of transformation events has been reported in MYD88 wild-type WM patients. HT in WM can be histologically heterogeneous, although the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of activated B-cell subtype is the predominant pathologic entity. The pathophysiology of HT is largely unknown. The clinical suspicion of HT is based on physical deterioration and the rapid enlargement of the lymph nodes in WM patients. Most transformed WM patients present with elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and extranodal disease. A histologic confirmation regarding the transformation to a higher-grade lymphoma is mandatory for the diagnosis of HT, and the choice of the biopsy site may be dictated by the findings of the 18fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The prognosis of HT in WM is unfavorable, with a significantly inferior outcome compared to WM patients without HT. A validated prognostic score based on 3 adverse risk factors (elevated LDH, platelet count < 100 × 109/L and any previous treatment for WM) stratifies patients into 3 risk groups. The most common initial treatment used is a chemo-immunotherapy (CIT), such as R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone). The response duration is short and central nervous system relapses are frequent. Whether autologous stem cell transplantation could benefit fit patients responding to CIT remains to be studied.