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Quality of Life in MPN Comes of Age as a Therapeutic Target

  • Myeloproliferative Disorders (C Harrison, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

BCR-ABL-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms include primary myelofibrosis, polycythemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia. Clonal stem cell proliferation and dysregulated JAK/STAT molecular pathways characterize these hematologic malignancies. Symptoms experienced by patients are heterogeneous including excessive and disabling fatigue, early satiety, anorexia, pruritus, bone pain, night sweats, cachexia, abdominal pain and discomfort, and cognitive complaints. Patients also experience impaired quality of life along with decreased overall survival. New targeted drug therapies, including JAK2 inhibitors, have demonstrated remarkable success in alleviating the myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) symptomatic burden, reducing splenomegaly and improving quality of life while offering overall survival benefit. Within the USA, FDA approval has only been granted to use JAK2 inhibitors in intermediate- to high-risk myelofibrosis. However, given that low-prognostic-scoring patients have been shown to have considerable symptomology, there is a possibility that lower-risk patients may benefit from therapy. More than ever, the need for accurate MPN symptom burden assessment and subsequent addition of targeted therapies is critical in the treatment of MPNs. This article discusses the role of MPN symptom burden and quality of life as therapeutic targets in the context of recent MPN clinical advances.

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Conflict of Interest

Dr. Robyn M. Scherber and Dr. Holly L. Geyer each declare no potential conflicts of interest.

Dr. Ruben A. Mesa is the Editor-in-Chief of Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic, 13400 E. Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA

    Robyn M. Scherber, Holly L. Geyer & Ruben A. Mesa

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  1. Robyn M. Scherber
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  2. Holly L. Geyer
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  3. Ruben A. Mesa
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Correspondence to Ruben A. Mesa.

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Scherber, R.M., Geyer, H.L. & Mesa, R.A. Quality of Life in MPN Comes of Age as a Therapeutic Target. Curr Hematol Malig Rep 9, 324–330 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-014-0239-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11899-014-0239-9

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