Dr. Rampal on the Future Research of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in MPNs

Raajit K. Rampal, MD, PhD, hematologic oncologist, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the future research of CDK4/6 inhibitors in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

Three CDK4/6 inhibitors—abemaciclib (Verzenio), palbociclib (Ibrance) and ribociclib (Kisqali)—are currently approved by the FDA for the treatment of breast cancer, and researchers are exploring their potential role in the treatment of MPNs, Rampal says.

The rationale for exploring these agents in MPNs stems from preclinical studies, where CDK4/6 inhibition plus JAK inhibition increased efficacy in animal models, Rampal explains. These data led to the initiation of a phase 1 trial examining the combination of ruxolitinib (Jakafi) and abemaciclib, Rampal concludes.