# Advances in polycythemia vera treatment with targeted therapies and clinical trials

**Authors:** Doaa Hassanien, Rashid A. AlYafei, Omar H. Metwally, Izzaldin Alremawi, Abdulla Khalid Al-Kaabi, Mohamed Elahtem, Talal AL-Sayed, Mohamed A. Yassin

PMC · DOI: 10.1007/s12672-025-03703-9 · Discover Oncology · 2025-10-27

## TL;DR

New targeted therapies for polycythemia vera show promise in improving treatment outcomes and addressing symptoms not managed by traditional methods.

## Contribution

The paper reviews novel targeted therapies for PV, highlighting their potential to transform treatment through personalized approaches.

## Key findings

- Hepcidin agonists, MDM2 inhibitors, HDAC inhibitors, and LSD1 inhibitors are being studied for their therapeutic potential in PV.
- Clinical trials indicate these therapies may reduce symptoms and improve long-term outcomes for PV patients.
- Further research is needed to confirm safety and efficacy for widespread clinical use.

## Abstract

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder characterized by excessive red blood cell production, leading to a heightened risk of thrombosis, hemorrhage, and progression to myelofibrosis. While traditional therapies such as phlebotomy and hydroxyurea have been used for disease management, they do not address the underlying pathophysiology or alleviate common symptoms like fatigue and pruritus. Recent advances in targeted therapies offer promising new options for PV treatment. This review explores novel therapeutic approaches currently under investigation, including hepcidin agonists, MDM2 inhibitors, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, and LSD1 inhibitors. These therapies aim to correct hematopoietic dysregulation, reduce symptom burden, and improve long-term outcomes for PV patients. While clinical trials show encouraging results, further studies are needed to fully evaluate their safety, efficacy, and potential for broad clinical use. Ultimately, these emerging treatments could reshape the landscape of PV management by offering more personalized, effective options for patients.

## Linked entities

- **Chemicals:** hydroxyurea (PubChem CID 3657)
- **Diseases:** polycythemia vera (MONDO:0009891), myelofibrosis (MONDO:0044903)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** MDM2 (MDM2 proto-oncogene) [NCBI Gene 4193] {aka ACTFS, HDMX, LSKB, hdm2}, HAMP (hepcidin antimicrobial peptide) [NCBI Gene 57817] {aka HEPC, HFE2B, LEAP1, PLTR}, HDAC9 (histone deacetylase 9) [NCBI Gene 9734] {aka HD7, HD7b, HD9, HDAC, HDAC7B, HDAC9B}, KDM1A (lysine demethylase 1A) [NCBI Gene 23028] {aka AIMAH3, AOF2, BHC110, CPRF, KDM1, LSD1}
- **Diseases:** thrombosis (MESH:D013927), hemorrhage (MESH:D006470), myelofibrosis (MESH:D055728), myeloproliferative disorder (MESH:D009196), pruritus (MESH:D011537), fatigue (MESH:D005221), PV (MESH:D011087)
- **Chemicals:** hydroxyurea (MESH:D006918)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12559549/full.md

## References

8 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12559549/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12559549