1. Which driver mutations are most responsible for the activation of the JAK-STAT pathway leading to the development of myelofibrosis (MF)?
A. JAK2, CALR, and MPL
B. ASXL1, SRSF2, and U2AF1Q157
C. JAK2, ASXL1, and MPL
D. JAK2, CALR, and SRSF2
E. Unsure
2. Which of the following statements regarding the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) is FALSE?
A. The DIPSS stratifies patients into 4 risk groups: low risk, intermediate risk 1, intermediate risk 2, and high risk
B. The DIPSS can be used as a prognostic tool at any point in the patient's disease course
C. The DIPSS was developed in order to incorporate genetic data into prognostic information
D. A patient's hemoglobin level is assigned more weight in the DIPSS than in the International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS)
E. Unsure
3. In patients with which type of myelofibrosis-associated anemia are erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) most appropriate and most likely to produce a response?
A. Patients with low-risk disease and a serum erythropoietin (EPO) level < 500 mU/mL without transfusion dependence
B. Patients with low-risk disease and a serum EPO level < 500 mU/mL with a hemoglobin level < 8.5 g/dL at the start of treatment
C. Patients who are refractory to danazol therapy
D. Patients with intermediate risk 2 disease and a serum EPO level > 500 mU/mL with transfusion dependence
E. Unsure
4. Use the following CASE to answer questions 4 through 8:
KG is a 70-year-old male with a past medical history of hypertension who presents to his primary care
provider (PCP) with fatigue and abdominal pain. The PCP appreciates splenomegaly upon physical
exam. KG’s medications include lisinopril 10 mg daily and a daily multivitamin.
KG’s vital signs and lab results are as follows:
Weight, 68 kg
Height, 5’9”
Blood pressure, 125/80 mmHg
Heart rate, 78 bpm
Hemoglobin, 8.5 g/dL
Hematocrit, 35%
Platelets, 180 x 109 /L
White blood cells, 20,000/µL
Serum creatinine, 1 mg/dL
Blood urea nitrogen, 18 mg/dL
Aspartate transaminase, 24 U/L
Alanine transaminase, 32 U/L
Total bilirubin, 0.5 mg/dL
Lactate dehydrogenase, 350 U/L
A bone marrow biopsy demonstrates fibrosis and a genetic evaluation reveals a JAK2 mutation with
no high-risk mutations.
KG is diagnosed with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). His Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS)-Plus score indicates he has intermediate risk 2 (INT-2) disease. What is the best
treatment option for KG?
A. Allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation with myeloablative therapy
B. Lenalidomide with prednisone
C. Ruxolitinib
D. Fedratinib
E. Unsure
5. The oncologist decides to initiate ruxolitinib and asks you for the correct starting dose for KG. Which is the correct initial dose?
A. 20 twice daily
B. 15 mg twice daily
C. 10 mg twice daily
D. 5 mg twice daily
E. Unsure
6. After 6 weeks of ruxolitinib therapy, KG is experiencing thrombocytopenia with a platelet count of 45 x 109 /L. What is the appropriate management strategy for KG's ruxolitinib?
A. Hold ruxolitinib and monitor complete blood count (CBC) in 2 weeks
B. Decrease ruxolitinib by 5 mg twice daily and monitor CBC in 2 weeks
C. Continue the current dosing and continue to monitor CBC every 2 weeks
D. Discontinue ruxolitinib and change to another JAK inhibitor
E. Unsure
7. After 2 years of ruxolitinib therapy with dose-titrated response, KG is now experiencing progressive splenomegaly over the past 6 months. What is the best treatment option for KG at this point?
A. Continue ruxolitinib at a higher dose
B. Discontinue ruxolitinib and monitor splenomegaly symptoms
C. Add lenalidomide to ruxolitinib therapy for a synergistic response
D. Change JAK inhibitor therapy to fedratinib
E. Unsure
8. On what point would you council KG regarding his therapy with fedratinib?
A. Take fedratinib with a meal to prevent nausea
B. Fedratinib has a black box warning regarding lipid elevations and frequent lipid panel checkups are required
C. Fedratinib is a substrate of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D6 and, therefore, it is important for KG to inform his oncologist of any new medications
D. To prevent the risk of Wernicke's encephalopathy, prophylactic thiamine must be given every week while on fedratinib therapy
E. Unsure
9. Which statement regarding novel treatment strategies for myelofibrosis (MF) is true?
A. Sotatercept is a first-in-class agent that causes red blood cell maturation by increasing circulating transforming growth factor (TGF) beta ligands
B. Pacritinib is being studied in MF patients with platelet counts < 50 x 109 /L
C. Momelotinib has shown statistical significance in superiority over best available therapy for reducing spleen size and decreasing symptom score in the SIMPLFY trials
D. JAK inhibitors are not fit to be studied in combination with other agents due to increased toxicities
E. Unsure
10. Which statement concerning JAK inhibitor therapy is FALSE?
A. Evidence from a head-to-head trial of ruxolitinib versus fedratinib favors a formulary addition of ruxolitinib if one JAK inhibitor must be selected for an institution's treatment pathway
B. Specialty pharmacies may need to obtain prior authorizations for JAK inhibitor third-party payer approvals
C. Co-pay assistance programs are available for both ruxolitinib and fedratinib
D. Though ruxolitinib is given twice daily and fedratinib is given daily, there is currently no evidence that one agent is better adhered to than the other
E. Unsure
Evaluation Questions
11. How confident are in your treatment choices for KG in questions above:
A. Not at all confident
B. Somewhat confident
C. Confident
D. Highly confident