From Palliation to Targeted Therapy in Myelofibrosis

Myelofibrosis is a very debilitating chronic myeloproliferative neoplasm.1 It may be primary or develop late in the course of essential thrombocythemia or polycythemia vera, the two most common and benign myeloproliferative neoplasms. Patients with myelofibrosis have shortened survival and a reduced quality of life. The current treatment is palliative and aimed at alleviating symptoms due to splenomegaly, controlling myeloproliferation, and improving anemia and other cytopenias.In this issue of the Journal, Verstovsek et al. report on the results of a phase 1−2 trial of an oral Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) and Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor, INCB018424, in advanced myelofibrosis. . . .