Texas MPN Workshop 2021 | The use of interferons in the treatment of MPNs
Richard Silver, MD, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, provides an overview of the use of interferons for the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), in particular commenting on how MPN disease biology means that interferons are a suitable treatment. This interview took place at the Texas MPN Workshop: Second Annual Workshop and Meeting in 2021.
Transcript (edited for clarity)
Well, interferon is of great interest in the treatment of MPNs because in contrast to non-specific myelosuppression, such as drugs like hydroxyurea, interferon has a biologic effect and a biologic reason for its use. For example, it activates dormant stem cells, dormant MPN stem cells in particular. It affects myelopoiesis, megakaryocytopoiesis, and erythropoiesis.
It affects angiogenesis, it’s anti-, it affects the JAK/STAT signaling pathway...
Well, interferon is of great interest in the treatment of MPNs because in contrast to non-specific myelosuppression, such as drugs like hydroxyurea, interferon has a biologic effect and a biologic reason for its use. For example, it activates dormant stem cells, dormant MPN stem cells in particular. It affects myelopoiesis, megakaryocytopoiesis, and erythropoiesis.
It affects angiogenesis, it’s anti-, it affects the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. So, there’s a very basic biologic underpinning for its use in the MPNs. And that’s why about 25 to 30 years ago I and others introduced it for the treatment of polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis. Since that time, we have definite evidence confirmed in the laboratory that in fact interferon will affect dormant hematopoietic stem cells. And we have confirmation that some of the observations that we have seen in the clinic have been confirmed biologically in the laboratory.
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Disclosures
Richard Silver, MD, has participated in speakers’ bureau with PharmaEssentia and consultancy with AbbVie.
