MPNs

Laura Michaelis, MD, associate professor of medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses thrombotic risk for patients with essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera.

Abdulraheem Yacoub, MD, associate professor of Hematology at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, discusses treatment beyond hydroxyurea in patients with polycythemia vera.<br /> &nbsp;

Hydroxyurea has been the primary treatment for polycythemia vera for decades and it works for the majority of patients, said Abdulraheem Yacoub, MD. However, there is a subset of patients who develop resistance or intolerance to hydroxyurea, and investigators are working to find a solution for those patients.

Ruxolitinib (Jakafi) is the only FDA-approved agent for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis, making resistance to this agent a particularly difficult treatment challenge. Combinations with ruxolitinib may reinvigorate the impact of the JAK inhibitor in relapsed, progressive, or intolerant patients, explained Robyn M. Scherber, MD, MPH, in a presentation at the 2018 SOHO Annual Meeting.

Robyn M. Scherber, MD, MPH, physician, The Mays Cancer Center, the newly named center of UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, addresses the management of patients with myelofibrosis after failure on ruxolitinib (Jakafi).<br /> &nbsp;

The Clinical Management of Primary Myelofibrosis

Diagnosis and Treatment of Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by&nbsp;splenomegaly, progressive cytopenias, and transformation to acute&nbsp;myeloid leukemia. This review&nbsp;will describe mutations detected in myelofibrosis and discuss how&nbsp;to incorporate mutation information into risk stratification and&nbsp;therapeutic decision making for patients with myelofibrosis.

Ruben A. Mesa, MD, recently discussed the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with polycythemia vera. Mesa, director of the University of Texas Health Cancer Center, explained his treatment decisions based on 2 case scenarios during a <em>Targeted Oncology </em>live case-based peer perspectives presentation.

Prithviraj Bose, MD, discussed the findings of 2 combination trials with ruxolitinib to optimize outcomes for patients with myelofibrosis.&nbsp;The JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib is the only FDA-approved therapy for the treatment of patients with myelofibrosis, but novel agents and combination regimens are in development to address some of the unmet needs in the field.

Harry P. Erba, MD, PhD, recently shared the treatment considerations and decisions he makes when treating patients with polycythemia vera.