Experience with lenalidomide in an Austrian non-study population with advanced myelofibrosis

Summary Current literature provides conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of lenalidomide in patients with myelofibrosis (MF). The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficacy of lenalidomide in patients with MF treated within a named patient program in Austria. A total of 22 patients with MF were treated with lenalidomide in 7 different centres throughout Austria. Median age of patients was 68 years. Primary MF was present in 13 patients. Eight patients had post-polycythemia vera (post-PV) and 1 post-essential thrombocythemia (post-ET) MF. According to the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS), all patients were scored within the intermediate-2 or high-risk group. Approximately one-third of patients were treated with 2 or more prior therapies. The overall response rate according to International Working Group (IWG) criteria was 12.5 %. Efficacy of lenalidomide was moderate in this non-study patient population. Limiting factors seemed to be stage of disease and risk profile of patients included in this analysis.