
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
This trial is looking at a drug called eltrombopag alongside azacitidine for people with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Doctors can treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with azacitidine (pronounced ay-zah-sy-tid-een). This works but doctors are always looking for ways to improve treatment.
Eltrombopag (pronounced el-trom-boe-pag) is a drug that increases the number of cells called in your blood. We know from research that a drug similar to eltrombopag taken with azacitidine helps people with MDS.
The researchers want to find out if eltrombopag taken with azacitidine can do the same. To do this, they first need to find the best dose to give.
The main aims of this trial are to find out the highest, safest dose of eltrombopag to give with azacitidine and what the side effects are of having these 2 drugs together.
You may be able to join this trial if you are in one of the following situations. You
And all of the following must apply
You cannot join this trial if any of these apply. You
This is a phase 1 trial. The researchers need 37 people to join. Everyone will have eltrombopag and azacitidine.
The first few people taking part will have a low dose of eltrombopag with azacitidine. If they don’t have any serious side effects, the next few people will have a higher dose. And so on, until they find the best dose to give. This is called a dose escalation study.
You have azacitidine as an injection under the skin. You have an injection Monday to Friday on the 1st week and then Monday and Tuesday the next week. You have this every 4 weeks. Each 4 week period is called a cycle of treatment.
Eltrombopag is a tablet you take once a day. You start taking it a week before you start azacitidine and continue for at least 9 weeks.
Everyone has 3 cycles of treatment. If your doctor thinks it is helping, you can have another 3 cycles. After this you may continue to have azacitidine only. Your doctor will talk to you about this.
The researchers will ask for a bone marrow test after your 3rd and 6th cycle of azacitidine. This is to see if it is helping you. They will also use some of these bone marrow samples for further research.
They will also ask for some extra blood samples. Most of these will be taken when you give your routine blood samples.
At the start of the trial the team will ask for some finger nail and toe nail clippings. They will use these to get a sample of your normal . They will compare the DNA in the clippings with any abnormal DNA in your blood and bone marrow sample.
You see the doctor to have some tests before taking part in this trial. These tests include
During treatment you see the doctor every week for 13 weeks for blood tests. You have 2 more physical examinations and 2 more bone marrow tests during this time.
At the end of treatment you see the doctor for another physical examination and blood tests.
After treatment your doctor will tell you how often they want to see you.
The most common side effects of azacitidine are
The most common side effects of eltrombopag are
Your doctor will talk to you about the possible side effects before you agree to take part in this trial.
We have information on azacitidine.
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Dr Alex Sternberg
Bloodwise
Celgene
Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Novartis
University of Birmingham
Freephone 0808 800 4040
"I was delighted to take part in a clinical trial as it has the potential to really help others in the future.”