Combining ruxolitinib and azacytidine for treating myelofibrosis and related conditions

Evaluation of Ruxolitinib and Azacytidine Combination as a Therapy for Patients With Myelofibrosis and Myelodysplastic Syndrome/ Myeloproliferative Neoplasm

Phase 2 Interventional M.D. Anderson Cancer Center · NCT01787487

This study is testing if combining two medications, ruxolitinib and azacytidine, can help people with myelofibrosis or related blood disorders feel better and improve their health.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment125 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorM.D. Anderson Cancer Center Academic / other
Drugs / interventionsradiation, ruxolitinib, chemotherapy
Locations1 site (Houston, Texas)
Trial IDNCT01787487 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II trial investigates the effectiveness of ruxolitinib phosphate combined with azacytidine in treating patients diagnosed with myelofibrosis or myelodysplastic syndromes/myeloproliferative neoplasms. The study aims to assess the efficacy of this combination therapy in improving disease status and to evaluate its safety profile. Patients will be monitored for their response to treatment, including time to response and duration of response, as well as the impact on anemia and transfusion dependence. The trial also explores how baseline mutational profiles and anemia affect overall survival outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or myelodysplastic syndromes/myeloproliferative neoplasms requiring therapy.

Not a fit: Patients with low-risk myelofibrosis or those who do not require therapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients suffering from myelofibrosis and related disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with similar combination therapies, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a diagnosis of primary myelofibrosis (PM), post polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PPV MF), or post essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (PET MF) requiring therapy, including those previously treated and relapsed or refractory, or if newly diagnosed, with intermediate or high risk according to International Working Group (IWG-MRT) criteria
* Patients with a diagnosis of myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm, unclassifiable (MDS/MPN-U) that require therapy
* Understanding and voluntarily signing an Institutional Review Board (IRB)-approved informed consent form
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 2
* Direct bilirubin of =\< 2 mg/dL
* Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) =\< 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or 5 x ULN if related to MF or MDS/MPN associated liver infiltration
* If total bilirubin is =\< 2, fractionation is not required for eligibility determination
* Creatinine =\< 2.5 mg/dL
* Platelets \>= 50 x 10\^9/L
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1.0 x 10\^9/L

Exclusion Criteria:

* For the MF and MDS/MPN-U arms (arms 1 \& 2), use of any other standard drug (except hydroxyurea, anagrelide, growth factors, Revlimid, clofarabine, etc) or experimental drug or therapy within 14 days of starting study therapy
* Patients previously treated with RUX or AZA (only applicable for the MF and MDS/MPN arms)
* Any serious psychological condition or psychiatric illness that would prevent the subject from signing the informed consent document, in the investigator opinion
* Pregnant or lactating females
* Subjects of childbearing potential who are unwilling to take appropriate precautions (from screening through follow-up) to avoid becoming pregnant or fathering a child; females of non-childbearing potential are defined as women who a) are 55 years of age with history of amenorrhea for 1 year OR b) are surgically sterile for at least 3 months; for females of childbearing potential, or for males, pregnancy must be avoided by taking appropriate precautions; these precautions and the methods of contraception should be communicated to the subjects and their understanding confirmed
* Any condition which places the subject at unacceptable risk if he/she were to participate in the study or confounds the ability to interpret data from the study
* Known positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or with known active infectious hepatitis, type A, B or C
* Patients with active malignancy of other type than required for this study, are not eligible with the exception of currently treated basal cell, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma "in situ" of the cervix or breast; patients with malignancies with indolent behavior such as prostate cancer treated with radiation or surgery can be enrolled in the study as long as they have a reasonable expectation to have been cured with the treatment modality received

Where this trial is running

Houston, Texas

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, UnclassifiableMyelofibrosis Transformation in Essential ThrombocythemiaPolycythemia Vera, Post-Polycythemic Myelofibrosis PhasePrimary Myelofibrosis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.