Hematologic Malignancies: Polycythemia Vera

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.

Srdan Verstovsek, MD, PhD, Chief, Section for Myeloproliferative Neoplasms at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the most recent developments in diagnosing polycythemia vera.