Randomized Trial of Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a Versus Hydroxyurea in Polycythemia Vera (PV) and Essential Thrombocythemia (ET)

Summary

This research is looking at two conditions, Essential Thrombocythemia (ET) and Polycythemia Vera (PV). ET causes people to produce too many blood cells called platelets and PV causes too many platelets and red blood cells to be made. Platelets are particles which circulate in the blood stream and normally prevent bleeding and bruising. Having too many platelets in the blood increases the risk of developing blood clots, which can result in life threatening events like heart attacks and strokes. When the number of red blood cells is increased in PV this will slow the speed of blood flow in the body and increases the risk of developing blood clots. The purpose of this study is to look at the effectiveness of giving participants who have been diagnosed with ET or PV one of two different study regimens over time. The study subject will be followed for their condition for about 5 years. The subject will be randomized into one of two study regimens, either Pegylated Interferon Alfa-2a (PEGASYS) or Aspirin and Hydroxyurea (also called Hydroxycarbamide). The subject must be newly diagnosed or already receiving treatment for either PV or ET. Each of the study drugs used in this study is already being used to treat subjects with ET or PV currently, but the investigators are unsure which study drug is better.

Timeline

Start

2011-09

Primary completion

2017-06-30

Completion

2017-06-30

Publications

• Thanarajasingam G, Bhatnagar V, Noble BN, Chen TY, Fiero MH, Hoffman R, Jeffery M, Mazza GL, Mascarenhas J, Mesa R, Murugappan M, Ross J, Sidana S, Warsame R, Kluetz PG, Dueck AC. Longitudinal graphics of patient-reported physical function in patients treated for hematologic malignancies. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2025 Aug 7;25(1):189. doi: 10.1186/s12874-025-02617-y.
• Mascarenhas J, Kosiorek HE, Prchal JT, Rambaldi A, Berenzon D, Yacoub A, Harrison CN, McMullin MF, Vannucchi AM, Ewing J, O'Connell CL, Kiladjian JJ, Mead AJ, Winton EF, Leibowitz DS, De Stefano V, Arcasoy MO, Kessler CM, Catchatourian R, Rondelli D, Silver RT, Bacigalupo A, Nagler A, Kremyanskaya M, Levine MF, Arango Ossa JE, McGovern E, Sandy L, Salama ME, Najfeld V, Tripodi J, Farnoud N, Penson AV, Weinberg RS, Price L, Goldberg JD, Barbui T, Marchioli R, Tognoni G, Rampal RK, Mesa RA, Dueck AC, Hoffman R. A randomized phase 3 trial of interferon-alpha vs hydroxyurea in polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Blood. 2022 May 12;139(19):2931-2941. doi: 10.1182/blood.2021012743.
• Yacoub A, Mascarenhas J, Kosiorek H, Prchal JT, Berenzon D, Baer MR, Ritchie E, Silver RT, Kessler C, Winton E, Finazzi MC, Rambaldi A, Vannucchi AM, Leibowitz D, Rondelli D, Arcasoy MO, Catchatourian R, Vadakara J, Rosti V, Hexner E, Kremyanskaya M, Sandy L, Tripodi J, Najfeld V, Farnoud N, Papaemmanuil E, Salama M, Singer-Weinberg R, Rampal R, Goldberg JD, Barbui T, Mesa R, Dueck AC, Hoffman R. Pegylated interferon alfa-2a for polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia resistant or intolerant to hydroxyurea. Blood. 2019 Oct 31;134(18):1498-1509. doi: 10.1182/blood.2019000428.

Drugs

Indications