Ruxolitinib: in the treatment of myelofibrosis.
Ruxolitinib is a selective inhibitor of Janus kinases (JAK) 1 and 2, which are involved in the signalling pathway of various cytokines and growth factors essential to haematopoiesis. JAK 1 and 2 are implicated in the development of myelofibrosis, as well as other haematological malignancies. Ruxolitinib is the first agent approved for the treatment of myelofibrosis. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial (COMFORT-I) in patients with myelofibrosis, significantly more ruxolitinib than placebo recipients achieved a ≥ 35% reduction in spleen volume (primary endpoint) at 24 weeks. In a randomized, open-label, multicentre trial (COMFORT-II) in patients with myelofibrosis, significantly more ruxolitinib than best available therapy recipients achieved the same primary endpoint at 48 weeks. Significantly more ruxolitinib than placebo recipients achieved a ≥ 50% reduction in Total Symptom Score at 24 weeks in COMFORT-I. Ruxolitinib generally improved health-related quality-of-life scores, while best available therapy was generally associated with worsened scores at 48 weeks in COMFORT-II. In COMFORT-I, overall survival data appeared to favour ruxolitinib over placebo; of note, most placebo recipients had crossed over to receive ruxolitinib. In COMFORT-II, a significant difference in overall survival between ruxolitinib and best available therapy was not shown; this trial was not powered to detect such a difference. In clinical trials in patients with myelofibrosis, ruxolitinib was generally associated with an acceptable tolerability profile. In the placebo-controlled trial, the most commonly reported grade 3 or 4 adverse events in ruxolitinib recipients were thrombocytopenia, anaemia and neutropenia. These haematological adverse events were mainly managed with dosage interruptions/reductions and/or transfusions, and rarely resulted in discontinuation.
Adis, Auckland, New Zealand. demail@springer.com
Lily P H
LP
Yang
Gillian M
GM
Keating
D006801:Humans; D053613:Janus Kinase 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D009570:Nitriles; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009570:Nitriles; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011743:Pyrimidines; C540383:ruxolitinib; D053613:Janus Kinase 1; D053614:Janus Kinase 2