Charlottesville, Va.-based UVA Cancer Center researchers discovered how cancerous bone marrow cells promote the development of myelofibrosis, opening the door to a new treatment option.
Researchers identified a cytokine called interleukin-1 that contributes to the progression of myelofibrosis. Targeting this cytokine can prevent myelofibrosis and spare bone marrow from the scarring that is a hallmark of the disease.
The discovery not only provides a new treatment approach, but sheds light on the fundamental mechanisms of progression of myeloproliferative neoplasms, according to a Nov. 9 UVA release.