Lucia Masarova

Lucia Masarova

Hematologist, Medical Doctor

Leukemia

MD Anderson Cancer Center

Location USA, Houston

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Dr. Lucia Masarova is a hematologist-oncologist and translational researcher specializing in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. She currently serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Leukemia and Co-Leader of the Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Session at MD Anderson, as well as Vice-Chair of the Institutional Review Board. Trained in medical oncology at the National Cancer Institute of Bratislava and in leukemia at MD Anderson, Dr. Masarova has established herself as a leading expert in the management of myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia, and is a principal investigator on numerous phase I–III clinical trials. She is a key contributor to the NCCN Guidelines for MPNs and has published extensively on JAK inhibitor therapy, interferon strategies, novel combination approaches, and disease biology in MPNs and AML

Current Positions

  • Associate Professor, Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
  • Co-Leader, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Session, Division of Cancer Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center
  • Vice-Chair, Institutional Review Board 1 (IRB1), MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023–present
  • Editor, NCCN Guidelines for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms, 2023–present
  • Editor, NCCN Guidelines for Myeloid/Lymphoid Neoplasms with Eosinophilia, 2023–present
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Blood Advances, 2023–present
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 2023–present
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Clinical Lymphoma, Myeloma and Leukemia, 2023–present
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Video Journal of Hematological Oncology, 2022–present
  • Member, Editorial Review Board, Acta Haematologica, 2022–present
  • Advisor, SOHO DocMatter Community, 2022–present
  • Member, Editorial Board, Bratislava Medical Journal, 2024–present
  • External Consultant, Editorial Board, Clinicka Onkologia, 2015–present

Education

  • MD, Comenius University Bratislava School of Medicine, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2007
  • Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine, National Cancer Institute Bratislava, 2007–2012
  • Clinical Fellowship, Medical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, 2007–2012
  • Observer, Department of Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2014
  • Research Fellowship, Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015
  • Clinical Fellowship, Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2015–2017

Professional Experience

  • Research Specialist, Gerald Champion Cancer Center, Alamogordo, NM, 2013–2014
  • Attending Physician, Department of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, National Cancer Institute, Bratislava, 2012–2013
  • Senior Research Scientist, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2017–2018
  • Associate Professor, Department of Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, present
  • Co-Leader, Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Session, MD Anderson Cancer Center, present
  • Vice-Chair, Institutional Review Board 1, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2023–present
  • Member, IRB #1, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022–present
  • Member, Medicare and Medicaid Short Stay Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2022–present
  • Member, Medical Records Committee, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2018–present

Research Activity

  • Myeloproliferative neoplasms: Internationally recognized expert in the clinical and translational research of MPNs, including myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocythemia (ET); research spans prognostication, disease biology, novel therapeutics, and long-term outcomes
  • JAK inhibitor therapy: Co-author of landmark studies on ruxolitinib long-term outcomes, ruxolitinib plus azacitidine combinations (Blood, 2018), and individualized JAK inhibitor selection (Blood, 2025); contributor to real-world analyses and indirect treatment comparisons of momelotinib, fedratinib, and pacritinib
  • Interferon therapy in MPNs: Principal investigator on long-term pegylated interferon alfa-2a studies in ET and PV (median follow-up >15 years); PI of the SURPASS-ET phase 3 trial (ropeginterferon alfa-2b vs. anagrelide; Lancet Haematology, 2025) and EXCEED-ET and ECLIPSE-PV multicenter studies
  • T-regulatory cell therapy: Principal investigator of the phase Ib CK0804 (CXCR4-enriched Tregs) add-on study in myelofibrosis with suboptimal ruxolitinib response; contributing to novel cellular and immunological approaches in MPNs
  • AML arising from MPNs: Research on venetoclax-based combinations in post-MPN AML, IDH1/2-mutated post-MPN AML, and cladribine-based regimens for MPN transformation
  • Novel MPN therapeutics: PI on clinical trials evaluating LOXL2 inhibitor GB2064, PRMT5 inhibitor PRT543, pan-LOX inhibitor PXS-5505, BET inhibition, and CDK7/9 inhibitor combinations; contributor to preclinical studies establishing efficacy of these combinations
  • AML: Active contributor to flagship AML clinical trials at MD Anderson including venetoclax plus FLAG-IDA, DEC10-VEN, CPX-351 combinations, and inotuzumab ozogamicin for MRD-positive ALL; contributor to multiple prognostic modeling and survival studies
  • CML: Long-term follow-up data on nilotinib and dasatinib in newly diagnosed CML; co-author on combination venetoclax plus TKI studies

Grants and Funded Research (Select Active)

  • Principal Investigator, Single-arm multicenter study of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft (P1101) in adult patients with Essential Thrombocythemia (PharmaEssentia Corp), 2023–2030
  • Principal Investigator, Phase Ib open-label study of CK0804 add-on therapy in myelofibrosis with suboptimal response to ruxolitinib (Cellenkos, Inc), 2022–2029
  • Principal Investigator, Phase 2b study of NS-018 vs best available therapy in myelofibrosis with severe thrombocytopenia (NS Pharma), 2022–2029
  • Principal Investigator, Phase 1/2a study of PXS-5505 (pan-LOX inhibitor) in myelofibrosis (Pharmaxis Ltd), 2022–present
  • Principal Investigator, Phase IIa study of GB2064 (LOXL2 inhibitor) in myelofibrosis (Galecto Biotech AB), 2021–2028
  • Principal Investigator, Phase 3 SURPASS-ET study of P1101 vs. anagrelide as second-line therapy for Essential Thrombocythemia (PharmaEssentia Corp), 2021–2025
  • Principal Investigator, Phase IIIb single-arm study of Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in Polycythemia Vera (PharmaEssentia Corp; ECLIPSE-PV)

Honors and Awards

  • Top Performer 1% Award, National Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, 2020–2021
  • Future Leaders in Clinical Research in Hematology, Celgene, 2017
  • The Shannon Timmons Fellowship for Leukemia Research, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016
  • Merit Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology, 2016
  • Best Clinical Fellow, Department of Leukemia, MD Anderson Cancer Center, 2016–2017
  • Best Poster Award, 6th Slovak Lymphoma Forum, Bratislava, Slovakia, 2016
  • Academic Award of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine for Excellent Study Results, Comenius University Bratislava, 2007

Memberships / Affiliations

  • American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), 2020–present
  • European Hematology Association (EHA), 2019–present
  • The Texas Medical Association, 2018–present
  • Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO), 2016–present
  • American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), 2015–present
  • Slovak Oncologic Society, 2010–present
  • The Czech Leukemia Study Group for Life (CELL), 2008–present
  • Slovak Medical Society, 2007–present
  • European Society of Clinical Oncology (ESMO), 2011–2017

Areas of Specialization

  • Myeloproliferative neoplasms (myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia)
  • JAK inhibitor therapy and individualized JAK inhibitor selection
  • Interferon therapy in MPNs
  • MPN transformation to acute myeloid leukemia
  • Acute myeloid leukemia — venetoclax-based combinations and novel therapeutics
  • T-regulatory cell and immunotherapy approaches in MPNs
  • Clinical trial design and leadership in hematologic malignancies
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
  • Prognostic modeling and outcomes research in hematologic malignancies
  • NCCN Guideline development for MPNs

Publications

Dr. Masarova has authored and co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals including The Lancet Haematology, Blood, Blood Advances, NEJM Evidence, Leukemia, Haematologica, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, iScience, Future Oncology, Frontiers in Medicine, Clinical Cancer Research, and Acta Haematologica.

Select Recent Publications:

Mesa R, Gill H, Zhang L, Masarova L, Mascarenhas J, et al. “Ropeginterferon alfa-2b in hydroxyurea-intolerant or hydroxyurea-refractory essential thrombocythaemia (SURPASS ET): a multicentre, open-label, randomised, active-controlled, phase 3 study.” The Lancet Haematology 12(11):e862–e875, 2025. PMID: 41193116.

Masarova L, Chifotides HT. “How I individualize selection of JAK inhibitors for patients with myelofibrosis.” Blood 145(16):1724–1737, 2025. PMID: 39357058.

Mascarenhas J, Bose P, Hillis C, Yacoub A, Masarova L, et al. “ECLIPSE-PV: A Randomized, Multicenter Study to Assess Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Two Dosing Regimens of Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-Njft in Polycythemia Vera.” Acta Haematologica 148(6):1–7, 2025. PMID: 40043697.

Masarova L, Reeves BN, El Chaer F, Mascarenhas J, Bose P, et al. “A multicenter study to assess efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ropeginterferon alfa-2b-njft in patients with essential thrombocythemia in the US and Canada: EXCEED-ET trial.” Frontiers in Medicine 12:1548590, 2025. PMID: 40330782.

Fiskus W, Masarova L, Mill CP, Bose P, Pemmaraju N, DiNardo CD, Bhalla KN, et al. “Preclinical efficacy of tasquinimod-based combinations in advanced myeloproliferative neoplasms in blastic phase.” Blood Advances 9(21):5598–5609, 2025. PMID: 40829105.

Masarova L, Verstovsek S, Palandri F, Mesa R, Harrison C, et al. “Indirect treatment comparison of momelotinib vs fedratinib safety in patients with myelofibrosis.” Future Oncology 21(16):2077–2087, 2025. PMID: 40476514.

Vachhani P, Tan P, Watson AM, Masarova L, Hobbs G, et al. “A phase I/IIa trial of PXS-5505, a novel pan-lysyl oxidase inhibitor, in advanced myelofibrosis.” Haematologica 110(10):2376–2387, 2025. PMID: 40241543.

Masarova L, Mascarenhas J, Rampal R, Hu W, Livingston RA, Pemmaraju N. “Ten years of experience with ruxolitinib since approval for polycythemia vera.” Cancer 131(1), 2025. PMID: 39616447.

Kadia TM, Pemmaraju N, Masarova L, Parmar S, Flowers C, Kantarjian H, Verstovsek S, et al. “Phase 1 Study of CK0801 in Treatment of Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.” NEJM Evidence 3(6):EVIDoa2300362, 2024. PMID: 38804782.

Huang M, Ke Z, Lyu MA, Masarova L, Sadeghi T, Flowers CR, Parmar S. “CXCR4-enriched T regulatory cells preferentially home to bone marrow and resolve inflammation.” iScience 27(9):110830, 2024. PMID: 39314243.

Tefferi A, Barosi G, Passamonti F, Masarova L, Verstovsek S, et al. “Proposals for revised International Working Group–European LeukemiaNet criteria for anemia response in myelofibrosis.” Blood 144(17):1813–1820, 2024. PMID: 39116296.

Fiskus W, Mill CP, Bose P, Masarova L, DiNardo CD, Bhalla KN, et al. “Preclinical efficacy of CDK7 inhibitor-based combinations against myeloproliferative neoplasms transformed to AML.” Blood 145(6):612–624, 2024. PMID: 39561280.

Bewersdorf JP, Mi X, Masarova L, Stein EM, et al. “Phase Ib study of PRT543, an oral PRMT5 inhibitor, in patients with advanced splicing factor-mutant myeloid malignancies.” Leukemia 39(3):765–769, 2025. PMID: 39856223.

DiNardo CD, Jen WY, Takahashi K, Masarova L, Kantarjian HM, et al. “Long term results of venetoclax combined with FLAG-IDA induction and consolidation for newly diagnosed and relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia.” Leukemia 39(4):854–863, 2025. PMID: 40000842.

Masarova L, Bose P, Pemmaraju N, Daver NG, Chifotides HT, Verstovsek S. “The role of therapy in the outcome of patients with myelofibrosis.” Cancer 129(18):2828–2835, 2023. PMID: 37243913.

Masarova L, Verstovsek S, Hidalgo-Lopez JE, Daver N, et al. “A phase 2 study of ruxolitinib in combination with azacitidine in patients with myelofibrosis.” Blood 132(16):1664–1674, 2018. PMID: 30185431.

Masarova L, Patel KP, Newberry KJ, Verstovsek S, et al. “Pegylated interferon alfa-2a in patients with essential thrombocythaemia or polycythaemia vera: a post-hoc, median 83-month follow-up of an open-label, phase 2 trial.” The Lancet Haematology 4(4):e165–e175, 2017. PMID: 28291640.

Book Chapters:

  • Masarova L, Verstovsek S. “Interferons in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms.” In: Pathogenesis and Treatment of Leukemia. Springer Publishing, 2023.
  • Verstovsek S, Bose P, Masarova L, Amin H. “Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.” In: The MD Anderson Manual of Medical Oncology, 4th Edition, 2023.

All information is sourced from publicly available materials.