Low-dose ruxolitinib shows effective in treating myelofibrosis

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-dose ruxolitinib (daily dose ≤ 10 mg) for the treatment of myelofibrosis (MF). A retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 88 patients with myeloproliferative neoplasm-associated MF (MPN-MF) who were diagnosed and treated in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China. A total of 44 MPN-MF patients received a low dose of ruxolitinib (daily dose ≤ 10 mg), while another 44 patients received 10–25 mg twice daily. Low-dose ruxolitinib treatment resulted in slow, but gradual spleen response. Compared with baseline, the mean changes in palpable spleen length in the low- and high-dose groups were −26.9 and −49.0% after 12 weeks of treatment, respectively, and −46.7 and −64.1% after 48 weeks of treatment, respectively. In the low dose group, the median myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom assessment form (MPN-SAF) total symptom score (TSS) decreased by 37.8 and 35.9% at the 12 weeks and 48 weeks after treatment, respectively. No statistical difference was observed in MPN-SAF TSS among different dose groups. After 48 weeks of treatment, bone marrow (BM) fibrosis improved in 43.3% (13/30) of evaluated patients and was stable in 56.7% (17/30) patients. In the low-dose treated group, BM fibrosis improved in 50% patients and was stable in remaining 50%. Low-dose ruxolitinib is effective in treating MF.