Alina Markova, MD, on the Safety Profile of Topical Ruxolitinib for Cutaneous Chronic GVHD

Alina Markova, MD, a dermatologist and director of inpatient consultative dermatology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, sat down with CancerNetwork® during the 2022 Tandem Meeting, to discuss the safety profile of topical ruxolitinib INCB018424 phosphate 1.5% cream (Opselura) for patients with non-sclerotic and superficially sclerotic chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).

No serious adverse effects (AEs) were reported on the study. One patient experienced grade 1 headache that was potentially related to treatment. Additionally, 3 patients had grade 1 treatment-emergent AEs that were either unrelated to (n = 2) or likely unrelated to (n = 1) the study therapy.

Transcript:

With respect to safety of topical ruxolitinib on our study, we only had 1 grade 1 event that was possibly attributed to therapy, and that was a headache. Three other grade 1 events were treatment emergent, and we did not feel [they] were related to therapy. There was no burning on application, which was really reassuring for these patients. It is notable, however, with 20% body surface area application, there is some systemic absorption, equivalent to just over 1 mg of the oral ruxolitinib. It’s not significant enough to cause any of the viremia or really systemic immunosuppression that’s associated with the oral medication. But that is something to keep in mind with generalized application.

Reference

Markova A, Prockop SE, Dusza S, et al. Interim results of a pilot, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, vehicle-controlled trial on safety and efficacy of a topical inhibitor of Janus kinase 1/2 (ruxolitinib INCB018424 phosphate 1.5% cream) for non-sclerotic and superficially sclerotic chronic cutaneous graft-versus-host disease. Presented at: 2022 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings; Salt Lake City, UT; April 23-26, 2022. Abstract 390.