Skip to main content

Targeted Drug Therapy for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

As researchers have learned more about the changes inside cells that cause cancer, they have developed newer drugs that target these changes. These are often referred to as targeted therapy drugs. These drugs work differently from standard chemotherapy (chemo) drugs. They sometimes work when chemo drugs don’t, and they often have different side effects.

Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors

Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and zanubrutinib (Brukinsa) block a protein called Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inside lymphoma cells, which normally helps the cells grow and survive. Ibrutinib can be used alone or in combination with rituximab to treat WM, while zanubrutinib is typically used by itself. These drugs are taken by mouth as pills, typically once or twice a day.

Common side effects of BTK inhibitors include diarrhea, rash, muscle and bone pain, fatigue, cough, bruising, and low blood cell counts. More serious side effects can include bleeding, serious infections, and heart rhythm problems. Some people taking these drugs develop skin or other cancers, so it’s important to use sun protection when outside while taking one of these drugs.

Proteasome inhibitors

These drugs stop enzyme complexes (proteasomes) inside cells from breaking down proteins that normally help keep cell division under control.

Bortezomib (Velcade) and carfilzomib (Kyprolis) are sometimes helpful in treating WM. These drugs are given as an infusion into a vein (IV); bortezomib can also be given as an injection under the skin (sub-q).

Although these drugs work slightly differently from most chemo drugs, they can still cause many of the same types of side effects, including low blood counts, nausea, and loss of appetite. They can also damage nerves, causing pain in the feet and legs (peripheral neuropathy). The nerve damage usually gets better after the drug is stopped, but it might not go away completely.

mTOR inhibitors

These drugs block a cell protein known as mTOR, which normally helps cells grow and divide into new cells.

Everolimus (Afinitor) is used more often to treat some other types of cancer, but it has also been shown to be useful in treating WM after other treatments have been tried. This drug is taken daily as a pill. Common side effects include fatigue (tiredness), mouth pain, rash, diarrhea, and infections.

Other mTOR inhibitors, such as temsirolimus (Torisel), are now being studied to see if they can help treat WM as well.

Other drugs that target different parts of lymphoma cells are also being studied for use against WM (see What’s New in Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia Research?).

More information about targeted therapy

To learn more about how targeted drugs are used to treat cancer, see Targeted Cancer Therapy.

To learn about some of the side effects listed here and how to manage them, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.

Advani RH, Buggy JJ, Sharman JP, et al. Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib (PCI-32765) has significant activity in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31:88–94.

Buske C, Leblond V, Dimopoulos M, et al. Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinaemia: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2013;24 Suppl 6:vi155–159.

Dimopoulos MA et al. Phase 3 Trial of Ibrutinib plus Rituximab in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia. N Engl J Med. 2018; 378:2399-2410. 

Gertz MA. Waldenström macroglobulinemia: 2017 update on diagnosis, risk stratification, and management. Am J Hematol. 2017;92:209-217.

Ghobrial IM, Witzig TE, Gertz M, et al. Long-term results of the phase II trial of the oral mTOR inhibitor everolimus (RAD001) in relapsed or refractory Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. Am J Hematol. 2014;89:237–242.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. V.1.2022. Accessed at www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/waldenstroms.pdf on September 2, 2021.

Rajkumar SV, Dispenzieri A. Chapter 104: Multiple myeloma and related disorders. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Dorshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2014.

Last Revised: September 2, 2021

American Cancer Society Emails

Sign up to stay up-to-date with news, valuable information, and ways to get involved with the American Cancer Society.