May 2014 Update

I have reached a milestone of 42 months without medication or treatment and 5 years since I was first diagnosed with ET. However, I still do visit my Hematologist every 6 months to monitor my platelets as a precaution.

A healthy diet, healthy lifestyle with regular exercise and stress management have been my regular mindset for the past few years now and I hope that might have helped.

With advanced technology and research these days, I do hope that the future is bright for ET patients seeking for a permanent treatment and cure for this rare blood disorder.

Video: Story of a group of patients with blood cancers essential thrombocythemia, myelofibrosis and polycythemia, collectively known as myeloproliferative neoplasms and efforts from MPN Research Foundation.

Pushing MPN Research Forward from MPNRF on Vimeo.

 

Anagrelide vs Hydroxyurea

According to an article that I’ve read on the internet, both treatments either  anagrelide or hydroxyurea have no significant difference between them. This research was done with a group of patients and the study was recorded and registered at the U.S. National Institutes of Health

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01065038

Based on the research, Anagrelide as the selective platelet lowering agent is not inferior compared to hydroxyurea in preventing thrombotic complications in patients. More details on the article can be found from the following source below.

Source:

bloodjournal: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/early/2013/01/11/blood-2012-07-443770.abstract
Anagrelide: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anagrelide
Hydroxyurea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroxycarbamide

MPN Patient Symposium by MPN Research Foundation on Thursday, May 17, 2012

MPN Research Foundation is organizing a symposium for Patients and caregivers at San Matteo California. Attendees will hear the most recent news on MPN research, clinical trials and treatment practices by these distinguished physicians and researchers.

Dr. Jason Gotlib, Stanford University Medical Center
“JAK Inhibitors in Myelofibrosis: What We Know and Don’t Know”

Dr. Ross Levine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
“Insights from Genetic Studies of MPNs”

Dr. Ruben Mesa, Mayo Clinic – Scottsdale
“Overcoming Your MPN”

Dr. Laura Michaelis, Loyola University Medical Center
Topic to be determined

Details can be found at http://www.mpnresearchfoundation.org/
Register yourself with the newsletter from the MPN Research Foundation website to receive informative news and updates from the MPN research and community.

Thrombocytosis Diagnosis – Algorithm

I found this very informative online site that provides the algorithm to diagnose PV, ET and Other MPN.

http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary.org/content/117/5/1472/F1.expansion.html

Diagnosis is done through Blood tests and/or Bone Marrow Biopsy.

Incyte Corporation – Phase 2 study of INCB18424 for the treatment of advanced PV and ET

Incyte Corporation (Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ: INCY) announced positive long-term clinical results from an ongoing open-label Phase 2 trial for INCB18424, in patients with advanced polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). PV and ET, along with myelofibrosis (MF), are blood cancers that belong to a group of diseases known as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). This trial (Study 18424-256) is an ongoing, multi-center, single-arm, open-label study being conducted in the United States and Italy. An initial 8-week run-in evaluation established 10mg and 25mg twice daily as starting doses for expansion cohorts in PV and ET, respectively.

For ET patients: After a median follow-up of 21 months, 49% of enrolled patients (n=39) normalized platelet counts, and 79% achieved platelet counts < 600×109/L or a ≥ 50% reduction from baseline. Of the 14 patients with extreme thrombocytosis > 1000×109/L at baseline, 13 (93%) experienced > 50% reduction. WBC counts for patients with baseline counts > 10×109/L normalized within the first month and were maintained for a median duration of 14 months. Palpable spleens completely resolved in 3 of 4 patients with baseline splenomegaly; 1 reduced >50% from baseline.

INCB18424 is a JAK1 and JAK2 inhibitor that has shown positive clinical activity in a number of hematology and inflammatory conditions.

Source: http://www.empr.com/phase-2-study-of-incb18424-for-the-treatment-of-advanced-polycythemia-vera-pv-and-essential-thrombocythemia-et/article/192357/#
Incyte Corporation: http://www.incyte.com/