MPNs

Two oncologists from Emory University School of Medicine faced off to determine if molecular markers should play a role in the treatment of subgroups of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. 

Heinz Gisslinger, MD, Medical University of Vienna, discusses differences between polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET).

Haifa Kathrin Al-Ali, MD, and Carlos Besses, MD, PhD debated the need for new drugs to treat polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). 

Since its approval 5 years ago, ruxolitinib (Jakafi) continues to drastically change the treatment landscape and quality of life of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), including a subset of patients with the bone marrow neoplasm, polycythemia vera (PV).

Distinguishing between polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) is key for the effective treatment of both diseases, said Heinz Gisslinger, MD, of the Medical University of Vienna.

In an interview with <em>Targeted Oncology</em>, Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses recent developments in polycythemia vera.

Follow up at 80 weeks to the open-label phase III RESPONSE trial confirmed the benefit of ruxolitinib over best available therapy (BAT) in the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who are resistant to or intolerant of hydroxyurea.

Goals of &quot;Project Impact: A Campaign to Defeat Pediatric Brain Tumors&quot;&nbsp;include improving clinical outcomes for pediatric brain tumor patients and informing the development of the first-ever standard of care for treating pediatric high-grade gliomas.

As therapeutic approaches with more efficacy and less toxicity are still highly needed, researchers are currently working to identify new targets in the MB field.

With a number of effective targeted therapies now available for patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms and chronic myeloid leukemia, patient selection for transplantation should rely heavily on prognostic scoring.

When it comes to managing high-risk patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET) or polycythemia vera (PV), John Mascarenhas, MD, starts with risk stratification.

As molecular and genetic studies have provided new insights into myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN),&nbsp;diagnostic criteria and therapeutic strategies for the diseases continue to evolve.

Heinz Gisslinger, MD, Medical University of Vienna, discusses new compounds in polycythemia vera (PV).

Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, Chief, Section for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Leukemia, discusses identifying and treating different myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

The management of medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain cancer in children, has not changed in decades but breakthroughs are on the horizon.

Final 5-year efficacy and safety data from the phase III COMFORT-I trial confirm previous findings that ruxolitinib (Jakafi) confers a significant benefit in patients with intermediate-2 and high-risk myelofibrosis. The JAK-2 inhibitor resulted in durable reductions in splenomegaly and improved overall survival, with patients experiencing no new or unexpected adverse events as a result of the long-term treatment.

Neratinib, an experimental TKI being developed for breast cancer, achieved a 36% clinical benefit rate in a phase II trial, according to a poster presented June 5, 2016 at the ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Genetic testing may improve treatment for multiple myeloma by helping oncologists identify patients at risk for developing more aggressive disease.

Almost 10 years following a study that proved intraperitoneal (IP), or abdominal, chemotherapy, along with intravenous (IV) therapy, may add 16 months or more to the lives of women with ovarian cancer, less than half of these patients at US hospitals receive this type of treatment

Results from the phase III METEOR study showed that treatment with cabozantinib (Cometriq) improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with everolimus (Afinitor) in previously treated patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).

Compared with best available therapy, the novel JAK2 inhibitor pacritinib demonstrated significantly better outcomes in spleen volume reduction and symptom control when administered to patients with myelofibrosis.