A Tribute to Dr. Guang Yang, Senior Scientist, Bing Center for WM
We offer this tribute to Dr. Guang Yang, who, after 13 years of service to the Bing Center (20 years at Dana-Farber), will be moving on to continue his career in the bio-pharmaceutical industry. Please join us in thanking him for his outstanding contributions in advancing our knowledge for the benefit of the WM community worldwide.
Dr. Guang Yang is a Senior Scientist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). He joined DFCI in 2001 following graduation from the Cancer Institute/Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) at Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) in Beijing, China. As a Research Associate in Dr. Benz's lab, he was focused on gene expression regulation studies and published several peer-reviewed papers in Blood, Molecular Cells, etc. In 2008, he joined the Bing Center for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (WM) as a Research Fellow and then promoted to an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. After the milestone discovery of MYD88-L265P somatic mutation in WM patients, his research has focused on mutated MYD88 signaling in B-cell malignancies. It demonstrated that MYD88-L265P triggers pro-survival NF-κB signaling in primary WM patient tumor cells (Treon et al. NEJM 2012.). This finding had a tremendous impact on the WM field by identifying MYD88-directed signaling as a novel therapeutic target for WM. He was the first to report Bruton Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) and Hematopoietic Cell Kinase (HCK) are downstream targets of mutated MYD88 signaling. These discoveries demonstrated that the pro-survival NF-kB signaling is driven by both BTK and IRAKs (Yang et al. Blood 2013), and HCK triggers pro-survival BTK, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK/ERK signaling (Yang et al. Blood 2016). The discovery of BTK as a downstream target of mutated MYD88 provided the scientific basis for the ibrutinib clinical trial (NCT01614821) in WM and subsequent fast-track, breakthrough designation, and accelerated approval by the U.S. FDA.
Read more: A Tribute to Dr. Guang Yang, Senior Scientist, Bing Center for WM
Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia Clinic
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.
Basic Research
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 ...
Latest Bing Center News
Infection Prevention Strategies for Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
This video webinar was presented by Dr. Andrew Branagan on September 15, 2021 as part of the IWMF's ongoing series of Ed Forum Workshops.
When Should a Patient Seek Treatment for Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia?
Approximately 30% of Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia patients are advised to "watch and wait" at time of diagnosis. When should a patient seek treatment?
Timely Updates in the Treatment of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia
As a follow-up to our recent announcement regarding the FDA approval of Zanabrutinib for the treatment of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia (Sept 2, 2021), we are pleased to share this lecture, presented as a webinar on September 24, 2021 by Dr. Steven Treon.
Newsweek Names Dana-Farber #3 in the World for Cancer
Dana-Farber has been named one of the world’s best cancer hospitals by Newsweek in its new World’s Best Specialized Hospitals 2022 rankings. Dana-Farber was ranked #3 globally. We are the only hospital in New England to be ranked in the top 15 for oncology.
FDA Approves Zanubrutinib for the Treatment of Waldenströms Macroglobulinemia
“The ASPEN trial provided compelling evidence that Brukinsa is a highly active BTK inhibitor in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, and compared to the first-generation BTK inhibitor, showed improved tolerability across a number of clinically important side effects. The approval of BRUKINSA provides an important new option for targeted therapy in Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia,” Steven Treon, MD, PhD, director of the Bing Center for Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia Research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, said in a statement.
LLS National Blood Cancer Conference, September 18, 2021
This Blood Cancer Conference is one of many programs developed by The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to meet the needs of patients, survivors, families and oncology professionals, the people who deal with blood cancer every day and the people who care for them. BCC attendees receive the most current information and access to local resources to help navigate and make informed decisions about their treatment and survivorship.
18th International Myeloma Workshop, September 8-11, 2021
The International Myeloma Workshop is the defining annual meeting in myeloma with a focus on both the basic, preclinical and the clinical aspects, including: Scientific Programs, Oral Presentations (on Basic Biology, Preclinical Trials and Clinical Studies), Consensus Panels, Poster Presentations.
NCCN Guidelines Add Zanubrutinib as Preferred Therapy for Waldenström Macroglobulinemia
The NCCN Guidelines Version 1.2022 Waldenström Macroglobulinemia/Lymphoplasmacytic Lymphoma (WM/LPL) were updated to include zanubrutinib as a preferred regimen for the primary therapy of WM/LPL along with bendamustine/rituximab, bortezomib/dexamethasone/rituximab, ibrutinib ± rituximab, and rituximab/cyclophosphamide/dexamethasone. Preferred interventions are based on superior efficacy, safety, and evidence.
The 300 Project forges ahead with Bliss gift
“We are looking at how cancer cells from patients who may not seem connected clinically may be utilizing the same networks through different mechanisms,” explains Zachary Hunter, PhD, one of the project’s leaders.
A Review of the Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in B-Cell Malignancies
This article reviews the pharmacology, clinical efficacy, safety, dosing, drug-drug interactions, and implications for advanced practitioners of BTK inhibitors in the treatment of B-cell malignancies.