Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b for the Treatment of Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Overlap Syndromes and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b for MDS/MPN Overlap Syndromes, Including CMML and MDS/MPN-RS-T

This phase II trial tests the safety, best dose, and effectiveness of ropeginterferon alfa-2b for the treatment of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasm overlap syndromes and chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a form of interferon. Interferons are a type of signaling protein normally produced by the body as part of the immune response. Interferons interfere with the division of cancer cells and can slow cancer cell growth. Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is a long-acting form of a type of interferon called interferon alfa-2b. In the body, ropeginterferon alfa-2b causes the production of proteins that modulate the immune system and have anticancer effects.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm; Atypical Chronic Myeloid Leukemia; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm With Ring Sideroblasts and Thrombocytosis, Not Otherwise Specified; Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Not Otherwise Specified
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Questionnaire Administration; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Procedure: Bone Marrow Aspiration; Procedure: Bone Marrow Biopsy; Biological: Ropeginterferon Alfa-2B

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To assess the safety and efficacy (overall response, OR) of ropeginterferon alfa-2b in adult patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) overlap syndrome.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate baseline cytogenetics, mutation profile, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML)-specific prognostic scoring system - molecular (CPSS-Mol) risk.

II. To assess the percentage of patient with hematological response based on 2015 international consortium proposal (ICP) MDS/MPN criteria.

III. Based on 2015 ICP MDS/MPN criteria, to assess time to complete response, time to disease progression (TTP), progression free survival (PFS), and event free survival (EFS).

IV. To assess the change from baseline in mutant allele frequencies (MAF), with special interests in ASXL1, SRSF2, NRAS, KRAS, SETBP1, RUNX1, CBL, EZH2, SF3B1 mutations; as also in non-driver mutations.

V. To assess the percentage of splenomegaly changes on clinical exam and on computed tomography (CT).

VI. To assess changes in MPN symptom burden using the MPN Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-Symptom Assessment Form [SAF] total symptom score [TSS]).

VII. To assess changes in packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion burden. VIII. To assess changes in the bone marrow morphology and fibrosis (as assessed by reticulin staining).

IX. To assess the change of cytokine profile.

OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study followed by a dose-expansion study.

Patients receive ropeginterferon alfa-2b subcutaneously (SC) on days 1 and 15 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days for up to 24 months (26 cycles) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, CT, and collection of blood samples throughout the trial.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 28 days and then every 3 months for up to 24 months.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 35
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Vladimir Kustanovich; Phone Number: 310-206-5756; Email: VKustanovich@mednet.ucla.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
      • UCLA / Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
      • Contact: Vladimir Kustanovich; Phone Number: 310-206-5756; Email: VKustanovich@mednet.ucla.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Wanxing Chai-Ho, MD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female ≥ 18 years of age at time of consent
• Documentation of a diagnosis of MDS/MPN overlap syndrome based on World Health Organization (WHO) 2022 classification, including CMML, MDS/MPN with neutrophilia, myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm with ring sideroblasts and thrombocytosis (MDS/MPN-RS-T), or MDS/MPN, not otherwise specified, by local pathology review, and deemed to potentially benefit from study participation by the investigator
• Written informed consent obtained from participant or participant's legal representative and ability for participant to comply with the requirements of the study
• Blast =< 10% by marrow immunohistochemistry stain
• Platelet count of > 50,000/uL
• Absolute neutrophils count (ANC) of > 1000/uL
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) =< 2
• Serum creatinine =< 2.5 mg/dL
• Serum direct bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL
• Serum transaminase < 2.5 times the upper limit of the normal range (ULN) or < 5 times ULN if the transaminase elevation was deemed related to the MDS/MPN

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior therapy with interferon or pegylated interferon product, or azacitidine
• Spleen overtly enlarged by physical exam (eg. greater than 5 fingerbreadth below costal margin)
• Other standard (including erythropoietin-stimulating agents [ESA] or luspatercept) or experimental therapy for MDS/MPN within 28 days of starting study therapy with the exception of hydroxyurea, which is allowed to continue up to 28 days after cycle 1 day 1 (C1D1) while on protocol
• Clinically significant autoimmune disease by investigator assessment, regardless if the autoimmune phenomena is related to MDS/MPN overlap syndrome
• History of or current clinically relevant depression or anxiety per investigator's judgement. Previous suicidal ideation or attempts are not allowed to participate in interferon (IFN) therapy
• Evidence of severe retinopathy or clinically relevant ophthalmological disorder
• History of organ transplant
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Active uncontrolled infection with clinical symptoms, e.g., presence of bacteria, fungal, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B or C
• Active uncontrolled thromboembolic complications or hemorrhage
• History of any malignancy within 5 years (except adequately treated non-melanoma skin cancer, prostate cancer status post resection with an undetectable prostate-specific antigen [PSA], curative treated in-situ cancer of the cervix, ductal carcinoma in situ [DCIS] of the breast, stage 1 grade 1 endometrial carcinoma, or other solid tumors including lymphomas curatively treated with no evidence of disease for ≥ 1 year prior to study)
• Uncontrolled active clinically significant illness that, in the investigator's opinion, may affect the patient's participation in this study
• Active abuse of alcohol and/or illicit drugs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Treatment (ropeginterferon alfa-2b); Patients receive ropeginterferon alfa-2b SC on days 1 and 15 of each cycle. Cycles repeat every 28 days for up to 24 months (26 cycles) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, CT, and collection of blood samples throughout the trial.

Other: Questionnaire Administration; Ancillary studies; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Undergo collection of blood samples; Other Names: Biological Sample Collection; Biospecimen Collected; Specimen Collection; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Undergo CT; Other Names: CT; CAT; CAT Scan; Computed Axial Tomography; Computerized Axial Tomography; Computerized Tomography; CT Scan; tomography; Computerized axial tomography (procedure); Computerized Tomography (CT) scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan; Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type; Procedure: Bone Marrow Aspiration; Undergo bone marrow aspiration; Procedure: Bone Marrow Biopsy; Undergo bone marrow biopsy; Other Names: Biopsy of Bone Marrow; Biopsy, Bone Marrow; Biological: Ropeginterferon Alfa-2B; Given SC; Other Names: P1101; AOP2014; Besremi; P-1101; PEG-P-IFN-Alfa-2b; PEG-P-IFN-Alpha-2b; PEG-Proline-Interferon Alfa-2b; AOP 2014; AOP-2014

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Overall response	Will be assessed per the 2015 international consortium proposal (ICP) myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)/myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) criteria. Overall response rate is defined as the best objective 2015 ICP MDS/MPN response achieved at any time on study (complete remission, complete cytogenetic remission, partial remission, marrow response or clinical benefit). Will be summarized as proportions with corresponding 95% exact binomial confidence intervals.	Up to 24 months
Incidence of adverse events	The incidence of adverse events, both hematological and non-hematological will be assessed by National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Will be summarized as proportions with corresponding 95% exact binomial confidence intervals.	Up to 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cytogenetics	Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	At baseline
Mutation profile	Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	At baseline
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia-specific prognostic scoring system - molecular risk	Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	At baseline
Clinical benefit	Will be based on 2015 ICP MDS/MPN criteria. Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	Every 3 cycles (cycle length = 28 days)
Progression-free survival	Progression will be evaluated per 2015 ICP MDS/MPN criteria. Will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with median times and associated 95% confidence intervals estimated using the Brookmeyer-Crowley method.	From initiation of treatment to disease progression or death, assessed up to 24 months
Overall survival	Will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with median times and associated 95% confidence intervals estimated using the Brookmeyer-Crowley method.	From initiation of treatment to death, assessed up to 24 months
Change in mutant allele frequencies	Will evaluate the change from baseline mutant allele frequencies, with special interests in ASXL1, SRSF2, NRAS, KRAS, SETBP1, RUNX1, CBL, EZH2, SF3B1 mutations; as also in non-driver mutations. Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	From baseline to every 3rd cycle (cycle length = 28 days)
Percent change in splenomegaly	Will be evaluated by clinical exam and on computed tomography. Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	Every cycle (for clinical exam) and on day 1 of cycles 4 and 7 and at end of treatment (for computed tomography) (cycle length = 28 days)
Changes in myeloproliferative neoplasm symptom burden	Changes in symptom burden will be evaluated using the Myelofibrosis Symptom Assessment Form total symptom score. Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	From baseline to day 1 of cycles 1, 2, and 4, and then every 3 cycles (cycle length = 28 days)
Time to response	Will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with median times and associated 95% confidence intervals estimated using the Brookmeyer-Crowley method.	Up to 24 months
Duration of response	Will be analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, with median times and associated 95% confidence intervals estimated using the Brookmeyer-Crowley method.	From date of response to date of first evidence of disease recurrence or treatment failure, assessed up to 24 months
Changes in packed red blood cell transfusion burden	Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	Up to 24 months
Changes in bone marrow morphology and fibrosis	Changes in bone marrow morphology will include cellularity and blast burden and fibrosis will be assessed by reticulin staining. Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	From baseline to day 1 of cycles 4 and 7 and at end of treatment (cycle length = 28 days)
Change in cytokine profile	Statistical analyses will primarily be descriptive. All other safety and efficacy endpoints will be summarized using appropriate descriptive statistics, including counts and proportions for categorical variables and means, medians, standard deviations, and ranges for continuous variables.	From baseline to weeks 25 and 49

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Collaborators: PharmaEssentia
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Wanxing Chai-Ho, MD, UCLA / Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 29, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2031
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2032

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 9, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 9, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 13, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 5, 2026
• Last Verified: March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Hematologic Diseases; Leukemia, Myeloid; Bone Marrow Diseases; Leukemia; Blood Platelet Disorders; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic; Myeloproliferative Disorders; Myelodysplastic-Myeloproliferative Diseases; Thrombocytosis; Leukemia, Myeloid, Chronic, Atypical, BCR-ABL Negative; Investigative Techniques; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Diagnostic Techniques and Procedures; Diagnosis; Surgical Procedures, Operative; Cytological Techniques; Cytodiagnosis; Diagnostic Techniques, Surgical; Biopsy; Specimen Handling; peginterferon alfa-2b
• Other Study ID Numbers: 25-2633; NCI-2026-01103 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No