Recruiting
Phase 2

Statins

Sponsor:

Washington University School of Medicine

Code:

NCT05483010

Conditions

Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Atorvastatin

Rosuvastatin

Study Details

Brief summary:

Patients with clonal cytopenia of undetermined significance (CCUS) and lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years. Mortality in these patients results from progression of disease to higher-risk MDS or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cardiovascular events. Currently there are no FDA-approved treatments with the potential to improve survival of patients with CCUS and lower-risk MDS. Statins are an appealing class of drugs to consider in this situation as preclinical data support their potential to suppress progression of myeloid malignancy, and they have a well-established role in prevention of major cardiovascular events. This is a pilot study to explore the role of statins in treatment of patients with CCUS and lower-risk MDS. In this study, change in inflammatory biomarkers and variant allele frequency (VAF) of somatic mutations will be used as a surrogate marker of response to statin therapy. The hypothesis is that the use of statins at diagnosis of CCUS or lower-risk MDS will reduce inflammation and delay or prevent the expected increase in the VAF of somatic mutations over time.

Conditions

Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Study ID

NCT05483010

Start date

Feb 19, 2024

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

May 31, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May 31, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of CCUS or lower-risk MDS as defined below:

  • CCUS is defined as the presence of somatic mutation(s) in recurrently mutated genes identified through the clinical MyeloSeq assay with a VAF ≥ 2% in the absence of bone marrow morphology/cytogenetic changes diagnostic of MDS PLUS unexplained persistent cytopenia in at least one lineage for at least 6 months:

  • Hemoglobin < 11.3 g/dL in females or < 13 g/dL in males
  • ANC < 1.8 x 109/L
  • Platelets < 150 x 109/L
  • MDS is defined using the WHO 2016 definition and classified into lower-risk if IPSS-R score is ≤ 3.5 . Lower-risk MDS will be required to have at least one mutation in a recurrent mutated gene with a VAF ≥ 2%.
  • Patient must be transfusion independent.
  • At least 18 years of age.
  • Ability to understand and willingness to sign an IRB approved written informed consent document (or that of legally authorized representative, if applicable).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • CCUS patients with cytogenetic change alone.
  • Current or prior use of disease-modifying therapy (e.g., lenalidomide, Luspatercept, Imitelstat, HMAs, venetoclax) with any dose within the last 3 months, with the exception of concurrent use of erythropoetin stimulating agents
  • Prior use of a statin within 1 year prior to start of treatment.
  • A history of other malignancy with the exception of malignancies for which all treatment was completed at least 2 years before registration and the patient has no evidence active of disease.
  • Currently receiving any investigational agent for CCUS/MDS. The minimum interval between the last dose of investigational agent used for CCUS/MDS and Day 1 of this trial should be 5 half-lives of the investigational agent.
  • A history of allergic reactions or intolerance attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, any other statin, or other agents used in the study.
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, symptomatic infection, sepsis, or active liver disease (acute liver failure, decompensated cirrhosis, or persistent elevation in ALT or AST > 3 x ULN), or any other comorbidity that would preclude statin use based on FDA recommendation.
  • Pregnant and/or breastfeeding. Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of study entry.
  • Patients with HIV and HCV are not eligible for the trial if they are concomitantly receiving active treatment for HIV/HCV given the concern for potential drug interactions. The minimum interval between the last dose of antiviral and enrollment into the study should be 28 days or 5 half-lives of the antiviral drug, whichever is longer. The liver function profile of eligible HIV/HCV patients must be within the acceptable limits.

Study Design

Enrollment

16 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Non randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Atorvastatin

  • Choice of statin is at the discretion of the treating physician and may depend on insurance approval.
  • Atorvastatin dosing starts at 80 mg once daily.
  • In the absence of disease progression or intolerable side effects, patients may receive up to 12 months of treatment.
  • If a patient switches statins due to toxicity, treatment time is still limited to 12 months total (ie, if a patient receives 6 months of atorvastatin and switches to rosuvastatin, the duration of rosuvastatin will be no more than 6 months).

experimental: Rosuvastatin

  • Choice of statin is at the discretion of the treating physician and may depend on insurance approval.
  • Rosuvastatin dosing starts at 40 mg once daily.
  • In the absence of disease progression or intolerable side effects, patients may receive up to 12 months of treatment.
  • If a patient switches statins due to toxicity, treatment time is still limited to 12 months total (ie, if a patient receives 6 months of atorvastatin and switches to rosuvastatin, the duration of rosuvastatin will be no more than 6 months).

Interventions

Atorvastatin

Atorvastatin is commercially available.

Rosuvastatin

Rosuvastatin is commercially available.

Primary outcome measure

  • Change in hs-CTRP levels in peripheral blood during statin therapy [ Time Frame: Pre-treatment, every 3 months while on treatment, end of treatment, 3 months after end of treatment and time of progression (estimated to be 15 months) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Amber Afzal, M.D., MSCI

314-273-0564afzalamber@wustl.edu

Locations

Washington University School of Medicine

Recruiting

St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

Contacts

Amber Afzal, M.D., MSCI

314-273-0564afzalamber@wustl.edu

Principal Investigator:

Amber Afzal, M.D., MSCI

More Information

Sponsor

Washington University School of Medicine

Last update posted

Jul 23, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • CCUS
  • MDS
  • Statins
  • Inflammation

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Washington University School of Medicine on 2026-07-23.