Interferon-alpha for treating polycythemia vera yields improved myelofibrosis-free and overall survival

[Manouche]

« Interferon-alpha (rIFNα) is the only disease-modifying treatment for polycythemia vera (PV), but whether or not it prolongs survival is unknown. This large single center retrospective study of 470 PV patients compares the myelofibrosis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS) with rIFNα to two other primary treatments, hydroxyurea (HU) and phlebotomy-only (PHL-O). The median age at diagnosis was 54 years (range 20-94) and the median follow-up was 10 years (range 0-45). ..

In low-risk patients, 20-year myelofibrosis-free survival (MFS) for rIFNα, HU, and PHL-O was 84%, 65% and 55% respectively and 20-year overall survival (OS) was 100%, 85% and 80% respectively. In high-risk patients, 20-year MFS for rIFNα, HU, and PHL-O was 89%, 41% and 36% respectively and 20-year OS was 66%, 40%, 14% respectively.

In conclusion, this study supports treatment of PV with rIFNα to prevent myelofibrosis and potentially prolong survival.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/336...

[Planti]

Very encouraging, thank you for posting.

[cmc_ufl]

Should we expect this to also apply to ET?

[Meatloaf9 in reply to cmc_ufl]

I think so. My MPN specialist told me that ET and PV are basically the same disease process.

[MPort]

Thank you. Appreciate your good research and postings. This is very encouraging.