A Phase 2 interventional study of Ruxolitinib in Essential Thrombocythemia and Polycythemia Vera, sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital. Recruiting at 4 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-08.
Sponsored by Massachusetts General Hospital · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This research is being done to see if the drug ruxolitinib is effective in reducing the symptoms caused by low-risk essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV).
- This research study involves the study drug Ruxolitinib.
This is a multi-center, non-randomized, two-stage phase II clinical trial evaluating ruxolitinib in low-risk but symptomatic essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) patients. This research is being done to see if Ruxolitinib is effective in reducing the symptoms people with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV) are experiencing. Ruxolitinib is a type of drug that blocks the specific proteins that may be causing the symptoms people with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV are experiencing.
The research study procedures include screening for eligibility and study treatment, including evaluations and follow up visits.
- Participants will receive Ruxolitinib for approximately 6 months and if benefitting from it may continue to receive Ruxolitinib for as long as there is no unacceptable side effects or disease progression.
It is expected that about 60 people will take part in this research study.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Ruxolitinib for polycythemia vera (PV) but not for people with essential thrombocythemia (ET) and polycythemia vera (PV).
Incyte, a biopharmaceutical company, is supporting this research study by providing funding for the study, including the study drug.
229 studies on the registry are indexed under Thrombocythemia, Essential; 38 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is above the median of 52 across 168 interventional studies indexed under Thrombocythemia, Essential.
Browse Thrombocythemia, Essential studies →Massachusetts General Hospital is the lead sponsor of 2,586 studies on the registry; 447 are open to participants now.
Of its 222 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 168 (76%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Washout period
A planned gap after a treatment, so that its effects can lessen before the study treatment or a study assessment. Ask the study team and the doctor who prescribed it before changing any medicine.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ECOG performance status
A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.
Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)
A 0–100 scale of how well someone can carry out everyday activities. 100 is no complaints and no signs of illness; 70 is able to look after yourself but not to work or keep up normal activity; 50 is needing considerable help and frequent medical care.
Studies often ask for 60 or 70 and above. Your doctor gives the score.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.
It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Platelets
Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Bilirubin
A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.
Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ULN (upper limit of normal)
The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.
“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
ALT and AST (liver enzymes)
Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.
Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)
GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².
Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis B tests
Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.
Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Hepatitis C tests
Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.
After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Investigational drug or device
A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.
It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Excipients
The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
In stage 1, participants will be divided into two cohorts: * Very low, Low, and Intermediate-risk ETpatients with significant symptom burden and Low-risk PV patients with significant symptom burden * Study cycles are 28 days long, participants in both cohorts will receive: * Ruxolitinib 2x daily for 6 study cycles.
Drug: Ruxolitinib
Stage 2 will commence based on 3 or more participants in Stage 1 showing a predetermined positive response to Ruxolitinib. In stage 2, participants will be divided into two cohorts: * Very low, Low, and Intermediate-risk ET patients with significant symptom burden and Low-risk PV patients with significant symptom burden * Study cycles are 28 days long, participants in both cohorts will receive: * Ruxolitinib 2x daily for 6 study cycles.
Drug: Ruxolitinib
Pill taken by mouth.
Also known as: Jakafi
Percentage of patients who achieve >50% reduction from baseline to Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Total Symptom Score
Percentage of patients with \>50% change in Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS), which has use in major clinical trials and as symptom assessment in all patients in clinical practice. Modeling has established baseline MPN-SAF TSS cut-off scores (total MPN-SAF TSS \>20 or an individual component score \>5) at which symptomatic treatment would be significantly beneficial
Time frame: baseline to 12 weeks
Proportion of patients achieving complete hematologic rate at week 12
Evaluate the efficacy of ruxolitinib in improving hematologic remission rates, as measured by International Working Group (IWG) working criteria ET: Platelet count ≤ 400 x 109/L, WBC count \<10 x 109/L, and absence of leukoerythroblastosis PV: hematocrit \<45% and WBC count \<10 x 109/L
Time frame: Week 12
Proportion of patients achieving complete hematologic rate at 24 Weeks
Evaluate the efficacy of ruxolitinib in improving hematologic remission rates, as measured by International Working Group (IWG) working criteria ET: Platelet count ≤ 400 x 109/L, WBC count \<10 x 109/L, and absence of leukoerythroblastosis PV: hematocrit \<45% and WBC count \<10 x 109/L
Time frame: Week 24
Best MPN-SAF TSS score
Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) for use in major clinical trials and as symptom assessment in all patients in clinical practice. Modeling has established baseline MPN-SAF TSS cut-off scores (total MPN-SAF TSS \>20 or an individual component score \>5) at which symptomatic treatment would be significantly beneficial. Scale title includes absence of symptom (0) and worst imaginable symptoms (10) per question, with minimum score 0 and maximum score 100. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes.
Time frame: 12 Weeks
Best MPN-SAF TSS score
Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Total Symptom Score (MPN-SAF TSS) for use in major clinical trials and as symptom assessment in all patients in clinical practice. Modeling has established baseline MPN-SAF TSS cut-off scores (total MPN-SAF TSS \>20 or an individual component score \>5) at which symptomatic treatment would be significantly beneficial. . Scale title includes absence of symptom (0) and worst imaginable symptoms (10) per question, with minimum score 0 and maximum score 100. Higher scores indicate worse outcomes.
Time frame: 24 Weeks
Percentage of change in Spleen Volume
Spleen volume reduction will be measured as the change in percentage spleen volume from baseline at 12 weeks as measured by CT, or MRI in patients with medical contraindication to CT. Summary statistics will be used to describe changes in spleen volume. Volume will be calculated by a computer-assisted perimeter method based on Sorenson et al. Spleen and liver volume will be obtained by outlining the circumference of the organ and determining the volume using the validated technique of least squares
Time frame: baseline to 12 weeks
Number of Participants with Treatment Related Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE v 5.0
descriptions and grading scales found in the revised NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0 will be utilized for AE reporting
Time frame: All patients who initiate treatment with study drug up to 60 months
Plan to share: Yes — The Dana-Farber / Harvard Cancer Center encourages and supports the responsible and ethical sharing of data from clinical trials. De-identified participant data from the final research dataset used in the published manuscript may only be shared under the terms of a Data Use Agreement. Requests may be directed to Sponsor Investigator or designee. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be made available on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or as a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research.
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan, Informed consent form
Time frame: Data can be shared no earlier than 1 year following the date of publication
Access criteria: Contact the Partners Innovations team at http://www.partners.org/innovation
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Mar 2022 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Jul 2027, 64 months after the start.
Of 27 phase 2 interventional studies under Thrombocythemia, Essential, half reached primary completion within 64 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 32 and three quarters within 141. This study's planned 64 months is close to that.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
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Studies of the drug tested here: Ruxolitinib
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