 |  |  | | | | | Myeloproliferative disorders | | | | |
| | The myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are a group of conditions where the body produces too many blood cells.
There are 15,000 - 20,000 people in the UK living with an MPD and Leukaemia Research has over £4.5 million invested in research into this group of blood disorders.
Professor Tony Green is one of the world’s leading specialists on this group of disorders and we have been supporting his research team at University of Cambridge for over 15 years, where they have made significant contributions to our understanding of this particular form of blood cancer.
The main types of MPDs include essential thrombocythemia (ET), where too many platelet cells are produced and polycythaemia vera (PV), where too many red cells are produced. Dr Philip Beer, a Leukaemia Research Clinical Fellow working with Professor Green, explains, “ A major complication of the MPDs is the formation of blood clots that can result in the patient having a stroke or a heart attack.”
A third, more serious form of MPD is a condition called myelofibrosis, that causes scarring of the bone marrow and failure to produce enough blood cells. Dr Beer adds, “Patients with a MPD can also develop a secondary acute form of leukaemia that is extremely difficult to treat.”
In 2005 Professor Green’s team were among the first to describe an acquired mutation in a gene, called JAK2, that is present in the majority of patients with an MPD and which is thought to be responsible for the over production of blood cells. More recently the team have found a group of mutations in the JAK2 gene that are associated with a distinct sub-group of polycythaemia vera.
Professor Green’s team have been able to complement their laboratory research with information collected from patients entered into clinical trials. Professor Green adds, “Our approach of integrating patient information with laboratory studies has led to significant advances that have improved the diagnosis of MPDs and revised the classification of the different MPDs. These studies are laying the foundations for the development of new therapies."
With your donation or support we can continue investing in research that will make a real difference to the lives of those affected by blood cancers.
Find out more about MPD and other blood cancers by visiting our disease information pages.
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| |  "The recent breakthroughs that have emerged from our research have dramatically increased our understanding of the myeloproliferative disorders. The ongoing support of Leukaemia Research will allow us to come even closer to finding a cure for this group of blood disorders."
Professor Tony Green
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