Dr. Mesa on Challenges in Myelofibrosis Treatment

Ruben Mesa, MD, the director of the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses remaining challenges in treating myelofibrosis.

Many challenges remain in treating patients with myelofibrosis because although many therapies are active, they are not curative, explains Mesa. Further research needs to focus on determining how to deepen and lengthen responses to treatment, says Mesa.

To date, research has largely focused on single-agent therapy, adds Mesa. The next steps may be to investigate what combinations will make an incremental benefit, according to Mesa. The reasons why patients progress on treatment are still not fully understood, but once more information is obtained, investigators will be in a better position to monitor any surrogate end points and target progression-free survival, concludes Mesa.