Dosing parameters for CD47 targeting therapies to hematologic malignancies

Methods are provided herein for determining and administering optimized dosing of therapeutic anti-CD47 agents, in a schedule that provides safe escalation of dose while achieving a therapeutic level in a clinically effective period of time. The methods can comprise the steps of clearance, escalation, and maintenance. In one embodiment the dosing regimen administers an initial (i) sub-therapeutic dose of an anti-CD47 agent or (ii) a cytoreductive therapy to achieve a safe level of circulating tumor cells for subsequent treatment (clearance); escalating the dose of an anti-CD47 agent until a therapeutic dose is reached (escalation); and maintaining the therapeutic dose for a period of time sufficient to reduce tumor cells in the bone marrow of the patient (maintenance). In an alternative dosing regimen, a patient determined to have a safe level of circulating tumor cells at presentation is treated by the steps of escalation and maintenance without initial clearance.