The Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib improves anti-MAG antibody polyneuropathy

Anti-myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) antibody neuropathy is a chronic sensorimotor demyelinating polyneuropathy associated with immunoglobulin M (IgM) monoclonal gammopathy, manifestation of either a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or of a non-Hodgkin lymphoma, such as Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM).^1,2 Anti-MAG antibodies are pathogenic,³ and rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is currently the standard treatment. However, rituximab provides benefit in less than 50% of patients,⁴ and repeated cycles are often necessary with progressive loss of benefit.

Recently, the discovery of the mutational profile of the MYD88 and CXCR4 genes has radically changed the diagnostic and prognostic evaluation of IgM monoclonal gammopathies. MYD88^L265P has been found to be the most common mutation in WM and IgM-MGUS,⁵ conferring prosurvival stimuli to tumor cells through constitutive activation of the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Conversely, the less common CXCR4 mutations are associated with adverse prognosis. Ibrutinib, the first-in-class inhibitor of BTK, has already been shown to be efficacious in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas including WM, especially in those harboring MYD88^L265P mutation and CXCR4 gene wild-type.^5,6

In the study by Treon et al.,⁵ 9 of 63 patients, 3 of whom had anti-MAG antibodies, received ibrutinib for progressive neuropathy. Subjective improvement occurred in 5 patients and 4 remained stable. In a subsequent study,⁶ 4 of 31 patients with WM had been treated with ibrutinib for neuropathy, 2 remained stable and 2 had subjective improvement starting from week 9, with subsequent complete recovery in one patient. Despite the possibility of hematologic evaluation might have lacked specific scales to grade the response of neuropathy, still these preliminary data are promising and show that ibrutinib does not worsen rather may improve neuropathy.

We report on 3 patients with anti-MAG antibody neuropathy who had been successfully treated with ibrutinib. Demographic and hematologic data are summarized in table 1. All patients had neurophysiologic evidence of sensory-motor demyelinating polyneuropathy, with secondary axonal damage involving distal motor fibers in one patient (1).

The patients were assessed with Inflammatory Neuropathy Cause and Treatment (INCAT) Disability Score,⁷ INCAT sensory sum score,⁸ and Medical Research Council sum score. The modified International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale⁹ was also performed in 2 patients (1 and 3) to evaluate tremor and gait, whereas it was not used in patient 2, who had Parkinson disease as a major comorbidity. Responders were considered those patients who improved by at least one point in 2 clinical scales. Data regarding clinical scales are summarized in table 2.

Patient 1 is a 73-year-old man, with a long history (from 2008) of anti-MAG antibody neuropathy. He had undergone therapy with plasma exchange, IV immunoglobulins, and rituximab with only partial benefit. After worsening, in December 2018, bone marrow biopsy (BMB) showed WM, with MYD88^L265P mutation and a lack of CXCR4^S338X. Ibrutinib 420 mg/die was started in January 2019. At baseline, he presented with distal weakness and hypoesthesia at the lower limbs, loss of vibration sense up to the knee, lower limbs areflexia, and upper limbs tremor (table 2). After 1 and 3 months of treatment, there was a slight improvement in touch sensation at the feet and in motor deficit at the toes (table 2). After 6 months, further improvement in touch sensation and distal motor deficit occurred, whereas tremor persisted. The clinical benefit was stable at 12 months (table 2). Monoclonal protein and IgM levels decreased. Anti-MAG antibodies decreased at 3 months but gradually increased thereafter (table 1).

Patient 2 is a 80-year-old man, affected with anti-MAG antibody neuropathy and Parkinson disease. BMB showed WM harboring MYD88^L265P and unmutated CXCR4 gene. He started ibrutinib 420 mg/die in February 2019. At baseline, there was a severe sensory-motor impairment at 4 limbs (distal lower limbs and grip strength deficit, hypoesthesia and loss of vibration sense up to the knee, lower limbs areflexia, postural tremor at upper limbs, table 2). After 1 and 3 months of treatment, a slight improvement in sensory signs and symptoms occurred, with vibration sense and reflexes reappearing at the knees (table 2). The improvement was maintained 12 months later. Monoclonal protein and IgM levels steadily decreased, whereas the antibody titers decreased at 3 months and then increased thereafter (table 1).

Patient 3 is a 74-year-old woman with WM and anti-MAG neuropathy since 2015. She was treated in 2016 with cyclophosphamide and rituximab, with clinical stability. In 2018, for progressive worsening of gait instability (frequent falls) and lower limbs dysesthesias (table 2), she underwent BMB that confirmed WM with MYD88^L265P mutation and unmutated CXCR4 gene. The patient started ibrutinib 420 mg/die in May 2019, and at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups, she already reported subjective improvement of touch sensation at the lower limbs (table 2). At the 6-month evaluation, she reported dramatic improvement in gait stability that further improved at month 9 (table 2). Monoclonal protein and IgM levels steadily decreased, whereas the antibody titers decreased at 3 months and then increased thereafter (table 1).

Therapy was well tolerated, and none developed atrial fibrillation or infections. All patients are currently still receiving treatment.

Appendix Authors

• Received December 23, 2019.
• Accepted in final form March 12, 2020.

• Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American Academy of Neurology.