All content on this site is intended for healthcare professionals only. By acknowledging this message and accessing the information on this website you are confirming that you are a Healthcare Professional. If you are a patient or carer, please visit the MPN Advocates Network.

  TRANSLATE

The mpn Hub website uses a third-party service provided by Google that dynamically translates web content. Translations are machine generated, so may not be an exact or complete translation, and the mpn Hub cannot guarantee the accuracy of translated content. The mpn and its employees will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages (even if foreseeable) resulting from use of the Google Translate feature. For further support with Google Translate, visit Google Translate Help.

The MPN Hub is an independent medical education platform, sponsored by AOP Health and GSK, and supported through an educational grant from Bristol Myers Squibb and Incyte. The funders are allowed no direct influence on our content. The levels of sponsorship listed are reflective of the amount of funding given. View funders.

Now you can support HCPs in making informed decisions for their patients

Your contribution helps us continuously deliver expertly curated content to HCPs worldwide. You will also have the opportunity to make a content suggestion for consideration and receive updates on the impact contributions are making to our content.

Find out more

TAMARIN trial: Tamoxifen for the treatment of MPN

By Sabina Ray

Share:

Jan 31, 2024

Learning objective: After reading this article, learners will be able to recall key findings from the TAMARIN trial.


Test your knowledge! Take our quick quiz before and after you read this article to find out if you improved your knowledge. Results help us to improve content and continually provide open-access education.

Question 1 of 2

Which of the following correctly describes the therapeutic class of tamoxifen?

A

B

C

D

Many therapies for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) address symptom improvement without a focus on reduction in tumor size.1 Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, has been shown to induce apoptosis in multipotent hematopoietic progenitors whilst sparing normal hematopoietic stem cells; therefore, it is under investigation to target tumor size in patients with stable MPN and without previous thrombotic events.1

Below, we summarize the phase II TAMARIN study (EudraCT 2015-005497-38) investigating tamoxifen in patients with stable MPN; no prior thrombotic events; and mutated JAK2V617F, CALRins5, or CALRdel52 peripheral blood allele burden ≥20%.

TAMARIN study design1

  • In total, 38 patients were enrolled
  • The primary outcome was a ≥50% decrease in mutant allele burden in peripheral blood at 24 weeks
  • Secondary outcomes included a ≥25% decrease in mutant allele burden at 24 weeks and toxicities

Results1

The baseline characteristics are shown in Table 1.

Table 1. Baseline patient characteristics*

Characteristics, % (unless otherwise specified)

Patients
(N = 38)

*Adapted from Fang, et al.1

Mean age, years

66.3

Sex

              Male

71.1

              Female

28.9

Disease subtype

              Essential thrombocythemia

36.8

              Primary myelofibrosis

15.8

              Post-essential thrombocythemia           myelofibrosis

5.3

              Polycythemia vera

28.9

              Post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis

13.2

Efficacy1

  • Most patients (84%) completed the 24-week treatment plan
  • Overall, three patients met the primary outcome
    • Three patients achieved ≥50% reduction in mutant allele burden
  • Five patients showed a 25% decrease in mutant allele burden at 24 weeks
    • Three of these patients carried the JAK2V617F mutation
    • The two remaining patients carried CALRdel52 and CALRins5 mutations, but these mutations also require increased MPL-JAK-STAT activation to be pathogenic.
  • Six patients remained on treatment beyond 48 weeks

Safety1

The safety profile was manageable and four serious adverse events (SAE) were reported:

  • urinary infection (n = 2) and intracranial hemorrhage (n = 1) not considered related to treatment;
  • vascular disorders (n = 1) considered possibly related to treatment; and
  • no deaths reported.

Conclusion

Tamoxifen was shown to reduce mutant allele burden in a subset of MPN patients who could be identified by hematopoietic stem cell transcriptomic signature before treatment. The primary endpoint (≥50% decrease in mutant allele burden in peripheral blood at 24 weeks) of this phase II study was met and observed in 3 patients. These findings advocate for future clinical studies to test the effectiveness of other selective estrogen receptor modulators in MPN, specifically the Janus kinase 2-signaling pathway.

References

Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements:

The content was clear and easy to understand

The content addressed the learning objectives

The content was relevant to my practice

I will change my clinical practice as a result of this content