Impact of Smoking on Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Abstracts
Initial Award Abstract |
|
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are a group of blood cancers characterized by unrestrained production of red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. Patients with MPN have 1) a high risk of developing blood clots, 2) debilitating symptoms such as itching, fatigue, headache and abdominal pain, and 3) can progress to acute leukemia which has a dismal prognosis. Chronic inflammation is a characteristic feature of MPN and not only drives many of the symptoms associated with the disease and promotes blood clots but also plays a key role in disease initiation and progression. Therefore, exposures like tobacco or potentially e-cigarette smoke likely have a negative impact on all three of the major problems in MPN. Thus, we will measure the impact of tobacco and e-cigarette smoke on blood clotting, symptom burden, and disease progression in MPN using our previously established MPN animal models, blood from MPN patients, and MPN patient reported outcomes in an online survey. This may lead to a stronger rationale for more aggressive smoking cessation counseling in MPN patients, increased incentive for patients to stop smoking due to improvement in symptoms, and may also lead to changes in treatment guidelines for MPN patients who continue to smoke. |
