Dr. Mesa on Remaining Challenges Faced in MPN Treatment

Ruben A. Mesa, MD, director of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses remaining challenges faced in the treatment of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

The issue of progression in MPNs is quite challenging, says Mesa. Although more active primary therapies have emerged in recent years, the field has not achieved a state of remission or cure with the current therapies that are available, according to Mesa. More work needs to be done to improve efficacy, Mesa adds.

Better disease control is being achieved but these diseases are still not being cured, nor are all patients achieving a minimal residual disease state, says Mesa. There are some biological lessons to learn in terms of understanding drivers of progression and how to further avoid disease progression in MPNs. It is essential to understand the mechanisms of action and evaluate combination therapies moving forward, concludes Mesa.