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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1INTERVENTIONAL

Selumetinib and Azacitidine in High Risk Chronic Blood Cancers

Phase I Study of MEK Inhibitor Selumetinib in Combination With Azacitidine in Patients With Higher Risk Chronic Myeloid Neoplasia: MDS, MDS/MPNs, and Myelofibrosis

Selumetinib and Azacitidine in High Risk Chronic Blood Cancers (NCT03326310) is a Phase 1 interventional studying Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Myelofibroses, sponsored by University of Chicago. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study to determine the MTD of selumetinib when combined with the standard dose of azacitidine. Treatment will begin within 28 days of screening procedures. Treatment will continue indefinitely, provided that the patient continues to derive benefit. A patient will be taken off study for reasons described in detail in section 3.12 including disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, inter-current illness, withdrawal of consent, or at the discretion of the investigator. Patients will be followed for 12 weeks after the last dose of study drug, until any study treatment related toxicities have stabilized, or until death. The total duration of the study is expected to be approximately 24 months.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

With a target enrollment of 18 participants, this is a small study — typical of early-phase research, rare-disease trials, or pilot studies designed to generate preliminary signal before a larger study is launched.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: All of the following criteria must be met: - Age greater than or equal to 18 years of age - Histologic confirmation of one of the following: a. MDS fulfilling all the criteria below: i. International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) intermediate-2 or high risk MDS; or Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) intermediate, high, or very high risk MDS ii. - relapsed/refractory disease iii. Requiring therapy based on the presence of one or more cytopenias (Hb \<10 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependence, platelets- \<50,000/μL, or ANC \<1,000/ μL) or excess blasts (≥5% in the peripheral blood or bone marrow). b. MDS/MPN as defined by the WHO criteria, including CMML, atypical CML, and MDS/MPN-Unclassifiable fulfilling the criteria listed below i. relapsed/refractory disease ii. Requiring therapy based on the presence of one or more cytopenias (Hb \<10 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependence, platelets \<50,000/μL, or ANC \<1,000/ μL), excess blasts (≥5% in the peripheral blood or bone marrow), or palpable splenomegaly iii. or previously untreated subsets (e.g atypical CML, MDS/MPN unclassifiable) requiring therapy as defined above and in whom no approved therapies exist. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: All of the following criteria must be met: * Age greater than or equal to 18 years of age * Histologic confirmation of one of the following: a. MDS fulfilling all the criteria below: i. International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS) intermediate-2 or high risk MDS; or Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) intermediate, high, or very high risk MDS ii. - relapsed/refractory disease iii. Requiring therapy based on the presence of one or more cytopenias (Hb \<10 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependence, platelets- \<50,000/μL, or ANC \<1,000/ μL) or excess blasts (≥5% in the peripheral blood or bone marrow). b. MDS/MPN as defined by the WHO criteria, including CMML, atypical CML, and MDS/MPN-Unclassifiable fulfilling the criteria listed below i. relapsed/refractory disease ii. Requiring therapy based on the presence of one or more cytopenias (Hb \<10 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependence, platelets \<50,000/μL, or ANC \<1,000/ μL), excess blasts (≥5% in the peripheral blood or bone marrow), or palpable splenomegaly iii. or previously untreated subsets (e.g atypical CML, MDS/MPN unclassifiable) requiring therapy as defined above and in whom no approved therapies exist. c. Myelofibrosis, including primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis fulfilling the criteria listed below: i. Intermediate-2 or high risk disease according to the Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System (DIPSS) classification ii. refractory or intolerant to JAK inhibitor therapy, or deemed - ineligible for ruxolitinib therapy due to pre- existing cytopenias (thrombocytopenia \<50,000/uL, anemia hemoglobin \<9g/dL or red cell transfusion dependence).Requiring further therapy based on the presence of one or more cytopenias (Hb \<10 g/dL and/or red cell transfusion dependence, platelets \<50,000/μL, or ANC \<1,000/μL), excess blasts (≥5% in the peripheral blood or bone marrow), or palpable splenomegaly * No history of prior exposure to a MEK inhibitor * ECOG performance status of ≤ 2 * Adequate renal function, defined as serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or creatinine clearance \>30 mL/min based on the Cockroft-Gault equation: (140 - Age) x (weight in kg) x (0.85 if female) / 72 x serum creatinine * Adequate liver function, defined as conjugated bilirubin ≤ 2 x ULN as well as aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) ≤ 3 x ULN * Patients must be at least 2 weeks from major surgery, radiation therapy, participation in other investigational trials and must have recovered from clinically significant toxicities of these prior treatments * Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to enrollment * Female and male patients must use an effective contraceptive method during the study and for at least 6 months thereafter * Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document Exclusion Criteria: Patients are excluded if any one of the following is present: * Receipt of any anti-cancer therapy within 14 days prior to study entry, with the exception of hydroxyurea. If clinically indicated in order to keep WBC \<30,000/uL, hydroxyurea may be continued through the first cycle. * Concurrent active malignancy, with the exception of early stage basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer * Active cardiac conditions, including any of the following: 1. Uncontrolled hypertension (BP \>150/95 mmHg despite medical therapy) 2. Acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to starting treatment 3. Uncontrolled angina despite medical therapy 4. Symptomatic heart failure (NYHA class II-IV despite medical therapy) 5. Baseline LV EF \<50% measured by either echocardiography or MUGA scan 6. Severe valvular heart disease 7. Atrial fibrillation with ventricular rate \>100 bpm on EKG at rest. * Ophthalmologic conditions, including any of the following: 1. Current or past history of central serous retinopathy 2. Current or past history of retinal vein occlusion 3. Intraocular pressure (IOP) \>21 mmHg or uncontrolled glaucoma * Any uncontrolled concurrent illness that, in the judgment of the investigators or treating physician, may put the patient at undo risk including but not limited to active infection, symptomatic cardiac or pulmonary disease, ventricular arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness. * Pregnant or lactating patients

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Azacitidine

Patients will receive azacitidine 75 mg/m2 as a subcutaneous injection on days 1-7. The dose of azacitidine 75 mg/m2 will remain unchanged, unless a dose reduction is required based on toxicities (dose level -1 = selumetinib 50 mg PO twice daily and azacitidine 50 mg/m2). Subjects will continue on this schedule in cycles of 28 days duration in the absence of disease progression

DRUG

Selumetinib

Patients will receive selumetinib administered by mouth on days 8-21. The starting dose cohort (dose level 1) will receive selumetinib 50 mg PO twice daily on days 8-21. Subsequent planned doses include selumetinib 75 mg PO twice daily (dose level 2) and selumetinib 100 mg PO twice daily (dose level 3). Subsequent dose levels will only be given once the prior dose level has shown acceptable safety. Subjects will continue on this schedule in cycles of 28 days duration in the absence of disease progression.

Locations (1)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

The University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT03326310), the sponsor (University of Chicago), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT03326310 clinical trial studying?

This is a phase I, open-label, dose-escalation study to determine the MTD of selumetinib when combined with the standard dose of azacitidine. Treatment will begin within 28 days of screening procedures. Treatment will continue indefinitely, provided that the patient continues to derive benefit. A patient will be taken off study for reasons described in detail in section 3.12 including disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, inter-current illness, withdrawal of consent, or at the discretion of the investigator. Patients will be followed for 12 weeks after the last dose of study drug, until … The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT03326310?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT03326310?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT03326310. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT03326310. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.