Treatment of Primary Myelofibrosis

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of primary myelofibrosis in patients without signs or symptoms is usually watchful waiting.

Patients with primary myelofibrosis may have signs or symptoms of anemia. Anemia is usually treated with transfusion of red blood cells to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. In addition, anemia may be treated with:

• Erythropoietic growth factors.
• Prednisone.
• Danazol.
• Thalidomide, lenalidomide, or pomalidomide, with or without prednisone.

Treatment of primary myelofibrosis in patients with other signs or symptoms may include the following:

• Targeted therapy with ruxolitinib.
• Chemotherapy.
• Donor stem cell transplant.
• Thalidomide, lenalidomide, or pomalidomide.
• Splenectomy.
• Radiation therapy to the spleen, lymph nodes, or other areas outside the bone marrow where blood cells are forming.
• Immunotherapy (interferon alfa).
• Erythropoietic growth factors.
• A clinical trial of other targeted therapy drugs.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.