MPNs

The treatment of myelofibrosis has changed significantly in the past few years, largely due to the approval of ruxolitinib (Jakafi). Although it provides durable improvements, the JAK inhibitor may be even more effective in combination—as inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling has not shown to be curative.

The NCCN published its first set of guidelines for myeloproliferative neoplasms in October 2016 and is already looking to update and expand these guidelines to match the need for direction in diagnosing and treating patients with MPNs.

Uncontrolled Polycythemia Vera

Harry P. Erba, MD, PhD, recently shared treatment considerations he would make when treating patients with polycythemia vera (PV) based on 3 case scenarios.

John Mascarenhas, MD, associate professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, discusses the results from the interim analysis of the MPD-RC 112 study, which compared frontline pegylated interferon-alpha-2a (Pegasys) with hydroxyurea in the treatment of patients with high-risk polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

John Mascarenhas, MD, associate professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, discusses studies investigating pacritinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis.

Worldwide clinical experience with the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib in patients with myelofibrosis has yielded safety and efficacy data similar to results of a pivotal randomized trial.

Treating patients with intermediate/high-risk myelofibrosis with the Janus kinase inhibitor ruxolitinib long-term demonstrated improved survival, pooled data from 2 randomized trials showed.

An international patient survey showed patients with myeloproliferative disorders have a high symptom burden that significantly affects emotional status, quality of life, and functional ability.

A third of patients with previously treated, high- and intermediate-risk myelofibrosis had objective responses to the investigational second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases mimetic LCL161.

The clinical hold on trials exploring pacritinib has been lifted by the FDA, according to CTI BioPharma, the developer of the JAK2/FLT3 inhibitor.

Findings of a recent randomized trial showed patients with myelofibrosis and thrombocytopenia had significantly greater reductions in spleen volume and symptoms when treated with the multikinase inhibitor pacritinib, compared with the best available therapy (BAT).

Ropeginterferon alfa-2b is noninferior to hydroxyurea in terms of complete hematologic response for the treatment of polycythemia vera, and has the advantage of being a safer and more tolerable therapy.

Ruben A. Mesa, MD, chair, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, deputy director, professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, discusses the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines for myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and who the recommendations will transition over the next year. Mesa spoke on the topic during an interview at the 34th Annual Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium™, held November 9-11, 2016 in New York City.

Harry Erba, MD, PhD, provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with polycythemia vera

Harry Erba, MD, PhD, provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with polycythemia vera