Current Hematologic Malignancy Reports

, Volume 2, Issue 1, pp 43–46 | Cite as

Update on the treatment of polycythemia vera with recombinant interferon alfa or imatinib mesylate

Article

Abstract

Polycythemia vera is a myeloproliferative disease, which, if untreated, leads to thrombohemorrhagic complications and eventually to progressive myelofibrosis, anemia, and splenomegaly. Two newly available drugs, interferon alfa and imatinib mesylate, may alter the course of this disease. Used as single agents, each produces lasting remissions in about 75% of patients with polycythemia vera. Of significance, change in JAK2 expression has been reported after treatment with both agents.

Keywords

Imatinib Imatinib Mesylate Polycythemia Vera JAK2 V617F JAK2 V617F Mutation 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References and Recommended Reading

  1. 1.
    Berk PD, Goldberg JD, Donovan PB, et al.: Therapeutic recommendations in polycythemia vera based on Polycythemia Vera Study Group protocols. Semin Hematol 1986, 23:132–143.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Weinfeld A, Swolin B, Westin J: Acute leukemia after hydroxyurea therapy in polycythemia vera and allied disorders: prospective study of efficacy and leukaemogenicity with therapeutic implications. Eur J Haematol 1994, 52:134–139.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Silver RT: Hydroxyurea and sickle cell crisis [letter]. N Engl J Med 1995, 333:1008.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Najean Y, Deschamps A, Driesch C, et al.: Acute leukemia and myelodysplasia in polycythemia vera. Cancer 1988, 61:89–95.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Najean Y, Driesch C, Rain JD: The very long-term course of polycythemia: a complement to the previously published data of the Polycythemia Vera Study Group. Br J Haematol 1994, 86:233–235.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    Najean Y, Mugnier P, Driesch C, et al.: Polycythemia vera in young people: an analysis of 58 cases diagnosed before 40 years. Br J Hematol 1987, 67:285–291.Google Scholar
  7. 7.
    Silver RT: A new treatment for polycythemia vera: recombinant interferon alpha. Blood 1990, 76:664–665.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Means RT, Krantz SB: Inhibition of human erythroid colony-forming units by gamma interferon can be corrected by recombinant human erythropoietin. Blood 1991, 78:2564–2567.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Costello R, Lerza A, Cerruti D, et al.: The in vitro and in vivo effect of recombinant interferon on circulating haemapoietic progenitors in polycythaemia vera. Br J Haematol 1994, 87:621–623.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Chott A, Gisslinger H, Thiele J, et al.: Interferon-alpha-induced morphological changes of megakaryocytes: A histomorphological study on bone marrow biopsies in chronic myeloproliferative disorders with excess thrombocytosis. Br J Haematol 1990, 74:10–16.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Sinzinger H, Linkesch W, Ludwig H, et al.: Impaired conversion of exogenous arachidonic acid by platelets to thromboxane B2 and correction of that deficiency by interferon-alpha. Prostaglandins 1990, 40:351–360.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Lin SL, Kikuchi T, Pledger WJ, et al.: Interferon inhibits the establishment of competence in Go/S-phase transition. Science 1986, 233:356–359.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Martyre MC, Nagdelenat H, Caldo F: Interferon gamma in vivo reverses the increased platelet levels of platelet-derived growth factors in transforming growth factor-b in patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia. Br J Haematol 1991, 77:431–435.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    Silver RT: Interferon-a2b: a new treatment for polycythemia vera. Ann Intern Med 1993, 119:1091–1092.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    Thomas DJ, du Boulay GH, Marshall J, et al.: Cerebral blood flow in polycythaemia. Lancet 1977, 2(8030):161–163.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Silver RT: Long-term effects of the treatment of polycythemia vera with recombinant interferon-alpha. Cancer 2006, 107:451–458.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Silver RT: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec ) reduces phlebotomy requirements in polycythemia vera. Leukemia 2003, 17:1186–1187.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    Silver RT, Fruchtman S, Feldman E, et al.: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec®) is effective in the treatment of polycythemia vera: A multi-institutional clinical trial [abstract]. Blood (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2004, 104:Abstract 656.Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Feldman EJ, Spivak JL, Lee S, et al.: Imatinib mesylate is effective in the treatment of polycythemia vera: a multi-institutional clinical trial [abstract]. J Clin Oncol (ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings) 2006, 24:6532.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Jones CM, Dickinson TM: Polycythemia vera responds to imatinib mesylate. Am J Med Sci 2003, 325:149–152.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Hasselbalch H: Imatinib mesylate in polycythemia vera. A heterogeneous response pattern but a consistent reduction in phlebotomy requirements [abstract]. Blood (ASH Annual Meeting Abstracts) 2004, 104:Abstract 4747.Google Scholar
  22. 22.
    Hino M, Futami E, Okuno S, et al.: Possible selective effects of interferon α-2b on a malignant clone in a case of polycythemia vera. Ann Hematol 1993, 66:161–162.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  23. 23.
    Messora C, BeQsi L, Vecchi A, et al.: Cytogenetic conversion in a case of polycythemia vera treated with interferon-alpha. Br J Haematol 1994, 86:402–404.PubMedGoogle Scholar
  24. 24.
    Jones AV, Kreil S, Zoi K, et al.: Widespread occurrence of the JAK2 V617F mutation in chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Blood 2005, 106:2162–2168.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  25. 25.
    Jones AV, Silver RT, Waghorn K, et al.: Minimal molecular response in polycythemia vera patients treated with imatinib or interferon alpha. Blood 2006, 107:3339–3341.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar
  26. 26.
    Kiladjian JJ, Cassinat B, Turlure P, et al.: High molecular response rate of polycythemia vera patients treated with pegylated interferon α-2a. Blood 2006, 108:2037–2040.PubMedCrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© Current Medicine Group LLC 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical CenterNew YorkUSA

Personalised recommendations