Eltrombopag for patients with moderate aplastic anemia or uni-lineage cytopenias

Blood Adv. 2020 Apr 28;4(8):1700-1710. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001657.

Abstract

There is no standard or widely effective treatment of patients with moderate aplastic anemia (MAA) or hypo-productive uni-lineage cytopenias (UC). Eltrombopag (EPAG), a small molecule thrombopoietin mimetic, has previously been shown to result in durable multi-lineage hematologic responses with low toxicity in patients with refractory severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Its safety and efficacy in MAA are unknown. This prospective phase 2 study enrolled previously untreated and treated MAA and UC patients with clinically relevant cytopenias. EPAG was administered at doses escalating from 50 to 300 mg/d. Hematologic responses were assessed at 16 to 20 weeks. Responding patients were continued on EPAG until reaching defined robust or stable blood counts. EPAG was reinstituted for relapse. Thirty-four patients were enrolled between 2012 and 2017, including 31 with MAA and 3 with UC. Seventeen patients responded in at least 1 eligible lineage by the primary end point. A striking improvement in anemia was observed in a patient with Diamond-Blackfan anemia. EPAG was well tolerated, and it was discontinued for robust or stable blood counts in 12 of 17 patients after a median of 8 months. A majority required re-initiation of EPAG for declining counts, and all regained response. Two of 34 patients developed non-chromosome 7 bone marrow cytogenetic abnormalities while taking EPAG, without dysplasia or increased blasts. Somatic mutation allele frequencies in cancer genes did not increase overall on EPAG. EPAG is a well-tolerated oral treatment of cytopenias in patients with MAA/UC. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01328587.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Anemia, Aplastic* / drug therapy
  • Benzoates / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Hydrazines / adverse effects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Pyrazoles

Substances

  • Benzoates
  • Hydrazines
  • Pyrazoles
  • eltrombopag

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01328587