Efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis: a retrospective and multicenter experience in Turkey

Turk J Med Sci. 2021 Jun 28;51(3):1033-1042. doi: 10.3906/sag-1812-70.

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis.

Materials and methods: From 15 centers, 176 patients (53.4% male, 46.6% female) were retrospectively evaluated.

Results: The median age at ruxolitinib initiation was 62 (28–87) and 100 (56.8%) of all were diagnosed as PMF. Constitutional symptoms were observed in 84.7%. The median initiation dose of ruxolitinib was 30 mg (10–40). Dose change was made in 69 (39.2%) patients. Forty seven (35.6%) and 20 (15.2%) of 132 patients had hematological and nonhematological adverse events, respectively. The mean spleen sizes before and after ruxolitinib treatment were 219.67 ± 46.79 mm versus 199.49 ± 40.95 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no correlation between baseline features and subsequent spleen response. Overall survival at 1-year was 89.5% and the median follow up was 10 (1–55) months. We could not show any relationship between survival and reduction in spleen size (p = 0.73).

Conclusion: We found ruxolitinib to be safe, well tolerated, and effective in real-life clinical practice in Turkey. Ruxolitinib dose titration can provide better responses in terms of not only clinical benefit but also for long term of ruxolitinib treatment.

Keywords: adverse events; ruxolitinib; survival; treatment; Myelofibrosis.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nitriles / therapeutic use*
  • Primary Myelofibrosis* / drug therapy
  • Primary Myelofibrosis* / epidemiology
  • Pyrazoles / adverse effects
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use*
  • Pyrimidines / therapeutic use*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Turkey / epidemiology

Substances

  • Nitriles
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • ruxolitinib