Dr. Kiladjian on Ruxolitinib Plus Interferon in MPNs

Jean-Jacques Kiladjian, MD, PhD, professor of clinical pharmacology, Paris Diderot University, consultant hematologist, head, Clinical Investigation Center, Saint Louis Hospital, Paris, France, discusses a study of ruxolitinib (Jakafi) and pegylated interferon alfa 2a in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms, specifically myelofibrosis.

Myelofibrosis is a disease associated with splenomegaly, anemia, and bone marrow fibrosis, among other symptoms. In the RUXOPeg study, a phase I/II trial presented at the 2018 ASH Annual Meeting, patients of high- and intermediate-risk categories were treated with interferon and the JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib. Preliminary data showed that the combination had promising efficacy and a favorable toxicity profile.

In 15 evaluable patients, the median spleen size was 6 cm by palpation and 18 cm by imaging. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the patients, with the highest tolerated dose being ruxolitinib at 15 mg twice daily plus interferon at 135 mcg per week. The next phase of the study will evaluate ruxolitinib at 20 mg twice daily.