Video

Expert Talks Side Effects of PV Treatment

Author(s):

Srdan Verstovsek, M.D., Ph.D.

While Jakafi has been providing promising outcomes so far, there are still some side effects that patients and providers should look out for.

The addition of Jakafi (ruxolitinib) to the treatment paradigm of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) was a gamechanger. And while the drug has been providing promising outcomes so far, there are still some side effects that patients and providers should look out for, explained Srdan Verstovsek, M.D., Ph.D., a medical oncologist and professor in the Department of Leukemia at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Jakafi acts as an immune suppressor, which puts some patients at higher risk for infections. Also, the drug may increase a person’s risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma — a non-melanoma skin cancer – for patients with a history or high risk of the disease. These are concerns that patients and their health care team should be aware of and monitor closely.

Newsletter

Stay up to date on cancer updates, research and education

Subscribe Now!
Related Videos
image of gerds
Image of 2 doctors and text.
Image of two doctors and text.
Image of man.
Image of thumbnail.
Patients can prepare personal overviews to help care teams connect with them as individuals, explained Michelle Kirschner in an interview with CURE.
Enhertu with Perjeta nearly doubled progression-free survival versus standard treatment in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer, study shows.
Expanding on a New Way to Manage Polycythemia Vera Without Iron Deficiency
Image of woman.
Image of two people.
Related Content
Image of blood cells.
June 11th 2025

Rusfertide Reduces Phlebotomy Need, Improves Quality of Life in Polycythemia Vera

Ryan Scott
Treatment with the investigational therapeutic rusfertide has proven to be a potential treatment option for patients with polycythemia vera.
Cancer Horizons podcast logo
January 8th 2024

FDA Stops Lung Cancer Trial, CAR-T Cell Therapy Is Cost Effective, Novel Drug Slows Fibrosis

Alex Biese Brielle Benyon
The year 2024 is now underway. After a busy 2023, we’re now looking back at some of the oncology headlines from the new year.
blood cells.
May 29th 2025

Pelabresib and Rituxan Combo Improves Outcomes in Myelofibrosis

Ryan Scott
A patient and provider share updates on pelabresib plus Rituxan treatment, which met the MANIFEST-2 trial's primary end point for those with myelofibrosis.
LeVar Burton Helping the MPN Community Through Advocacy and Storytelling
December 16th 2021

LeVar Burton Helping the MPN Community Through Advocacy and Storytelling

Jamie Cesanek Darlene Dobkowski, MA
On this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast, LeVar Burton sits down with CURE® to talk about the importance of MPN awareness and the power of storytelling in advocacy.
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
May 7th 2025

Managing Lung Inflammation After Chemoradiation and Tagrisso

Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam
Dr. Suresh S. Ramalingam explains that patients with stage 3 lung cancer who undergo chemotherapy and radiation may develop radiation pneumonitis.
Image of blood cells.
May 6th 2025

Givinostat Wins U.S. FDA Fast Track Designation for Patients With PV

Ryan Scott
Treatment with givinostat has received fast track designation from the United States Food and Drug Administration for patients with polycythemia vera.