[New developments in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia]

Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare subtype of B-cell lymphoma with mostly indolent course. Until now the backbone of therapy is still Rituximab / Chemotherapy. In recent years whole genome sequencing has revealed a number of genetic mutations, among them mutations of the MYD88 gene which occurs in over 90 % of patients and helps to validate diagnosis of WM in difficult cases. With the introduction of ibrutinib, an oral bruton-tyrosine-kinase inhibitor, an effective chemotherapy-free treatment option is available.