Defining disease progression in PV: A US modified Delphi consensus

Results from a US modified Delphi consensus to define disease progression and disease modification in polycythemia vera (PV) were recently published in Annals of Hematology by Bose et al. A steering group of seven US-based physicians generated 41 consensus statements across six domains, which were tested with 61 hematology and/or oncology specialists.

Key data: Consensus was achieved for 95% of statements. Highest consensus was observed for “Treatment consensus should be individualized”, “Comorbidity risk should be assessed prior to treatment selection”, and “Disease progression can be represented by a patient progressing with circulating blasts or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or post-PV myelofibrosis [MF]” (each 93%). Key treatment goals in PV include preventing thrombosis, controlling blood counts, improving symptoms, and avoiding progression to post-PV MF or AML.

Key learning: Based on the consensus, the steering group agreed on a set of recommendations for defining disease progression and modification in PV. These recommendations aim to improve understanding of the disease course to support the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.