Deferasirox in the management of iron overload in patients with myelofibrosis treated with ruxolitinib: The multicentre retrospective RUX-IOL study

Deferasirox (DFX) is used for the management of iron overload (IOL) in many haematological malignancies including myelofibrosis (MF). The 'RUX-IOL' study retrospectively collected 69 MF patients treated with ruxolitinib (RUX) and DFX for IOL to assess: safety, efficacy in term of iron chelation response (ICR) and erythroid response (ER), and impact on overall survival of the combination therapy. The RUX-DFX therapy was administered for a median time of 12.4 months (interquartile range 3.1-71.2). During treatment, 36 (52.2%) and 34 (49.3%) patients required RUX and DFX dose reductions, while eight (11.6%) and nine (13.1%) patients discontinued due to RUX- or DFX-related adverse events; no unexpected toxicity was reported. ICR and ER were achieved by 33 (47.8%) and 32 patients (46.4%) respectively. Thirteen (18.9%) patients became transfusion-independent. Median time to ICR and ER was 6.2 and 2 months respectively. Patients achieving an ER were more likely to obtain an ICR also (p = 0.04). In multivariable analysis, the absence of leukocytosis at baseline (p = 0.02) and achievement of an ICR at any time (p = 0.02) predicted improved survival. In many MF patients, the RUX-DFX combination provided ICR and ER responses that correlated with improved outcome in the absence of unexpected toxicities. This strategy deserves further clinical investigation.