Ruxolitinib Is Effective Before, During, and After HSCT for Patients With Myelofibrosis

Treating patients with myelofibrosis with the Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib before, during, and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is safe and effective, according to a study that will be presented at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition, which is taking place December 9-12 in San Diego, California.

In this phase 2, multicenter, investigator-initiated study, Dr. Gabriela S. Hobbs and colleagues assessed 43 patients (median age, 66 years; 37% women) with myelofibrosis who underwent HSCT with ruxolitinib administered before, during, and 1 year post-transplant. The primary end point of interest was defined as 1-year graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS). The study’s secondary end points included overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), engraftment, and incidence of acute and chronic GVHD.

After a median follow-up among survivors of 13 months, the researchers observed that the 1-year GRFS was 74%, with an OS and PFS of 86% and 79%, respectively. Overall, the cumulative incidence of grade III-IV acute GVHD after 6 months was just 2.4%, and only 1 patient had grade IV acute GVHD, the researchers noted.

“This study is the first multicenter trial to test ruxolitinib use pre-, during, and post-HCT in patients with myelofibrosis. Our results demonstrate [the] safety and feasibility of this approach,” the researchers concluded.

Reference

Hobbs G, Kim H, O’Connor S, et al. Updated findings of a phase II study of ruxolitinib pre-, during- and post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for patients with primary or secondary myelofibrosis. Abstract #2103. Presented at the 65th ASH Annual Meeting & Exposition; December 9-12, 2023; San Diego, California.