The purpose of this study is to assess the safety and efficacy of ruxolitinib in patients with operable Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who are planned for definitive surgery.
Pharmacodynamic Effects and Predictive Biomarkers of Janus Kinases (JAK)/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) Inhibition With Ruxolitinib in Operable Head and Neck Cancer: a Window Trial
Patients will take ruxolitinib twice daily during the pre-operative window for 14-21 days, or up to 28 days for delays in planned surgery. Ruxolitinib will be dispensed in 5 mg tablets. Participants will either take three tablets (15 mg) in the morning and evening, or four tablets in the morning and evening (20 mg). Participants will be asked to fill out a drug diary indicating when doses of study drug are taken and any side effects they experience. Dose will be assigned based on participant platelet count at baseline: 1. Patients with a platelet count of 200,000 or greater will take 20 mg twice daily (four 5mg tablets in the morning and four 5mg tablets in the evening); 2. Patients with a platelet count between150,000 and 200,000 will take 15 mg twice daily (three 5 mg tablets in the morning and three 5 mg tablets in the evening).