Dr. Jain on Challenges With Allogeneic Transplant in Myelofibrosis

Tania Jain, MBBS, assistant professor of oncology, Division of Hematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation, Johns Hopkins University, discusses the challenges faced with allogeneic transplant in patients with myelofibrosis.

Many patients with myelofibrosis are not considered for allogeneic transplant and therefore are not referred to tertiary centers for a transplant evaluation, says Jain. Although this approach has curative intent, the process is associated with morbidity and mortality.

In myelofibrosis, patients have a chronic malignancy they have been dealing with for years before they go on to receive transplant. During the time that they’re living with the disease, they tend to develop associated comorbidities, such as splenomegaly, decreased performance status, and pulmonary hypertension, among others. These comorbidities make patients less optimal candidates for transplant and thus these patients often experience inferior outcomes post-transplant compared with other malignancies, explains Jain.

A lot of work still needs be done in order to improve survival after allogeneic transplant in patients with myelofibrosis because this is the only curative option available, concludes Jain.