ABSTRACT
Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM) remains an incurable malignancy. However, a number of treatment options exist for patients with WM, including alkylating agents, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors such as proteasome inhibitors and Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi). The focus of this review is to highlight the role of BTKi in the management of WM. The first BTKi to receive US Food and Drug Administration approval for WM was ibrutinib. Ibrutinib has been extensively studied in both treatment-naïve WM patients and in those with relapsed/refractory disease. The next BTKi approved for use was zanubrutinib, and prospective data for acalabrutinib and tirabrutinib have also recently been published. Efficacy data for BTKi will be discussed, as well as the differences in their adverse event profiles.
ABSTRACT
A 60-year-old man underwent surveillance colonoscopy that demonstrated five subcentimetre polyps, all of which were biopsied. One of the five polyps had histopathology consistent with small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) metastasis from primary lung cancer. Subsequent imaging demonstrated a spiculated mass in the right upper lung lobe with metastasis to the brain, liver and spleen. He was immediately treated with palliative whole-brain irradiation followed by eight cycles of carboplatin and etoposide. Despite aggressive management, he had disease progression characterised by worsening performance status and development of transfusion-dependent anaemia, new blastic bone lesions and epidural disease. Given his liver failure, he was not considered a candidate for second-line topotecan. After discussion with the patient, family and palliative services, he was discharged with home hospice. This report describes a rare case of advanced SCLC presenting as a metastatic caecal polyp on surveillance colonoscopy.
