Abstract
Ruxolitinib is an oral Janus-activated kinase 1 (JAK1)/JAK2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis based on the results of two randomized clinical trials. However, discordant indications were provided by regulatory agencies and scientific societies for selecting the most appropriate candidates to this drug. The European LeukemiaNet and the Italian Society of Hematology shared the aim of building evidence-based recommendations for the use of ruxolitinib according to the GRADE methodology. Eighteen patient-intervention-comparator-outcome profiles were listed, each of them comparing ruxolitinib to other therapies with the aim of improving one of the three clinical outcomes: (a) splenomegaly, (b) disease-related symptoms, and (c) survival. Ruxolitinib was strongly recommended for improving symptomatic or severe (>15 cm below the costal margin) splenomegaly in patients with an International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)/dynamic IPSS risk intermediate 2 or high. Ruxolitinib was also strongly recommended for improving systemic symptoms in patients with an MPN10 score >44, refractory severe itching, unintended weight loss not attributable to other causes or unexplained fever. Because of weak evidence, the panel does not recommend ruxolitinib therapy for improving survival. Also, the recommendations given above do not necessarily apply to patients who are candidates for allogeneic stem cell transplant.
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Dr Barosi participated in speakers’ bureau for Novartis. Dr Kiladjian’s research was funded by Novartis and AOP Orphan; he also participated in speakers’ bureau for Novartis and AOP Orphan. Dr Passamonti participated in speakers’ bureau for Novartis. Dr Griesshammer received travel reimbursement from Novartis and Shire, participated in speakers’ bureaus for Baxalta, AOP Orphan, Novartis and Shire and received honoraria from Baxalta, AOP Orphan, Novartis and Shire. Dr Vannucchi participated in advisory boards and speakers’ bureaus for Novartis. Dr Kröeger received honorarium and research funding from Novartis. Dr McMullin received speaker fee from Novartis and Shire. Dr Harrison received research support from Novartis and honoraria from Baxalta, Novartis, Sanofi and Shire; she joined speakers’ bureaus for Baxalta, Incyte, CTI, Novartis, Sanofi and Shire. Dr Barbui received research grants and speaker fees from Novartis. Dr Marchetti’s research was funded by Janssen, Shire and Celgene; she received travel reimbursements from Janssen, Baxalta, Celgene and Shire and consultant or speaker fees from Gilead and Celgene. Dr Cervantes was a member of advisory boards for Novartis, Baxalta and AOP; he also joined speakers’ bureaus for Novartis, Baxalta and AOP. Dr Birgegård received research funding and speaker fees from Shire.
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BT and MM conceived the project. All the authors contributed to the discussion on the PICOs and approved final recommendations. MM conducted the critical appraisal of the literature, tracked the feedbacks from the panelists and drafted the paper. All the authors revised the manuscript and approved the final version.
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Marchetti, M., Barosi, G., Cervantes, F. et al. Which patients with myelofibrosis should receive ruxolitinib therapy? ELN-SIE evidence-based recommendations. Leukemia 31, 882–888 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2016.283
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/leu.2016.283
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