Alkylating agents for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia

Yang K, Tan J, Wu T

Published Online:

January 21, 2009

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterised by bone marrow infiltration and production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. It is a kind of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma which can lead to death. Alkylating agents are believed to be effective in treatment of Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia for alleviating symptoms and elongating survival time. The review authors found one randomised controlled trial with 92 participants that considered fludarabine was superior to the alkylating agents-containing regimen for pretreated/relapsed patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia.

Abstract (click to read)

Background:

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM) is an uncommon B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized by bone marrow infiltration and production of monoclonal immunoglobulin. Uncertainty remains if alkylating agents, such as chlorambucil, melphalan or cyclophosphamide, are an effective form of management.

Objectives:

To assess the effects and safety of the alkylating agents on Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia (WM).

Search strategy:

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue1, 2008), MEDLINE (1966 to 2008), EMBASE (1980 to 2008), the Chinese Biomedical Base (1982 to 2008) and reference lists of articles.We also handsearched relevant conference proceedings from 1990 to 2008.

Selection criteria:

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing alkylating agents given concomitantly with radiotherapy, splenectomy, plasmapheresis, stem-cell transplantation in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of WM.

Data collection and analysis:

Two authors independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. We contacted study authors for additional information. We collected adverse effects information from the trials.

Main results:

One trial involving 92 participants with pretreated/relapsed WM compared the effect of fludarabine versus the combination of cyclophosphamide (the alkylating agent), doxorubicin and prednisone (CAP). Compared to CAP, the Hazard ratio (HR) for deaths of treatment with fludarabine was estimated to be 1.04, with a standard error of 0.30 (95% CI 0.58 to 1.48) and it indicated that the mean difference of median survival time was -4.00 months, and 16.00 months for response duration. The relative risks (RR) of response rate was 2.80 (95% CI 1.10 to 7.12). There were no statistically difference in overall survival rate and median survival months, while on the basis of response rate and response duration, fludarabine seemed to be superior to CAP for pretreated/relapsed patients with macroglobulinaemia.

Authors' conclusions:

Although alkylating agents have been used for decades they have never actually been tested in a proper randomised trial. This review demonstrated that there is currently no evidence to suggest that alkylating agents are effective in treating Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia.

This record should be cited as:

Yang K, Tan J, Wu T. Alkylating agents for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD006719. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006719.pub3

Assessed as up to date:

May 30, 2008

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Primary Review Group:

Haematological Malignancies Group

Health topics:

Blood disorders > Haematological malignancies > Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Cancer > Haematological malignancies > Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Cochrane Summaries^beta

Independent high-quality evidence for health care decision making

Alkylating agents for Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia

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