Role of therapies on epigenetic modifications in MPNs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of therapies on epigenetic modifications in myeloproliferative neoplasms
IRAS ID
197786
Contact name
Suzanne McPherson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research governance, ethics and integrity
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
This study focuses on a group of blood cancers called the myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). We will be looking at two conditions within this group: polycythaemia vera (PV), where the patient has too many red blood cells, and essential thrombocythaemia (ET), where there are too many platelets. Some patients may have no symptoms at all and the condition only comes to light when a blood count is checked for another reason. However others may be burdened with severe fatigue or troublesome itch, particularly when the skin comes in contact with water, making bathing very difficult. Patients are also at risk of clots (e.g. stroke) and transformation to acute leukaemia. These types of leukaemia are very resistant to treatment and most patients ultimately die. At present it is very difficult to predict which patients are most at risk of serious complications, making it difficult for doctors to give individual patients a clear outlook at diagnosis and also muddies the waters as to which treatments to use and when. In other myeloid malignancies, clinical trials guided by genetic results, led to improved prediction of outcomes and the development of targeted therapy. Advances have been made in the genetics of MPN and researchers have shown that mutations involve proteins affecting signalling within the blood cells and an area called epigenetics. A new drug called Ruxolitinib has been developed and the MAJIC trial will compare this against current best practice. Research samples have been banked on the patients prior to and during treatment and will be examined to identify changes in the genetics between patients and the effect of treatment. Clinical information such as how the patient is responding and any complications will be analysed in parallel. We hope to be able to advance the treatment for MPN patients and identify markers of risk.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/NW/0191
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion