
I first met Dr. Steven Treon in February, 2004 when I joined the Bing Center as a volunteer. As a fellow BU alumnus, and 30 year high tech engineer, I was immediately impressed with Steve's ability to explain complex subject matter (i.e. blood cancer research) in ways that a "lay-person" can understand. I consider it a privilege to have attended his lab meetings where the latest research was regularly presented and discussed. It felt like I was auditing a post-graduate level biology class (and I never did well in chemistry or biology). Steve is always pushing the envelope, whether it is working with the pharmaceutical companies to develop custom molecules to aid with specific research projects, or to develop targeted therapies to be used in clinical trials, and eventually made generally available to patients. No matter what activity was taking place, Steve was involved in every step of the process.
Over the years, I have seen the Bing Center serve as a "training ground" for young researchers advancing in their careers. Due, in large part, to Steve's mentorship, many have gone onto MDs, Ph.Ds and even "MD, Ph.D". Others have gone into other areas of research. Steve always stressed the importance of being a "scientist", being curious, and striving for excellence, and that shows in his incredible body of work. Steve's efforts over the past 25 years have made the Bing Center a world class research and treatment center for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia. Thousands of WM patients from all over the world have come to the Bing Center for consultation and/or treatment. The research conducted there has spearheaded the development of new therapies which have extended the lifespans and quality of life for WM patients by decades.
The Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Clinic at the DFCI is devoted to the care of patients with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia and related IgM disorders, including IgM MGUS, Myeloma and Neuropathies.
For more information on the WM Clinic at DFCI, please visit the DFCI Center for Hematologic-Oncology/Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Clinic.
Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a distinct B-cell malignancythat results from the accumulation, predominantly in the bone marrow, of clonally related B type lymphocytes, lymphoplasmacytic cells and plasma cells which secrete a monoclonal IgM protein.1 This condition is considered to correspond to the lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL) as defined by the World Health Organization classification system.2 Most cases of LPL are WM, with less than 5% of cases made up of IgA, IgG and non-secreting LPL ...