Novel Advances in the Molecular Understanding of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms (MPNs)

A special issue of Cancers (ISSN 2072-6694). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Cancer Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 100

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Hematology, the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
2. Blood Diseases Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
Interests: MPNs; leukemia; lymphoma; CAR-T; HSCT; GVHD

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Guest Editor
The Affiliated Suqian First People’s Hospital of Nan**g Medical University, Suqian, China
Interests: Chinese medicine; pharmacology; anti-aging; anti-inflammation

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Guest Editor
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
Interests: hematopoiesis; megakaryocytes; myeloproliferative neoplasms; acute myeloid leukemia; myelodysplastic syndrome
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) encompass a diverse group of hematologic malignancies, including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), as well as post-PV-MF and post-ET-MF. Progression to acute leukemia represents the most dreaded complication of the disease and a significant cause of mortality in MPN patients. 

MPNs present a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations and molecular abnormalities, complicating their diagnosis, classification, and treatment. Common driver mutations, such as Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), calreticulin (CALR), and myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL), lead to the constitutive activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, a hallmark of MPN pathogenesis. These driver mutations are essential for the MPN phenotype. Concurrent somatic mutations, including transcription factors (e.g., Runx1), epigenetic regulators (e.g., TET2, ASXL1, and DNMT3A), signaling molecules (e.g., JAKs and NRAS), and splicing factors (e.g., SRSF2 and SF3B), also contribute to MPN development. 

Recent advancements in understanding the molecular pathogenesis and genetics of MPNs have prompted the investigation of various therapeutic agents targeting constitutively activated JAK/STAT with JAK inhibitors, such as ruxolitinib, fedratinib, pacritinib, and momelotinib, as well as MEK and ERK kinase inhibitors. While these treatments effectively alleviate clinical symptoms, none have demonstrated the ability to reduce mutant allele burden. The challenge lies in translating scientific discoveries into effective therapies to address this unmet medical need for MPN patients. 

This Special Issue aims to present the latest advances in exploring the molecular landscape of MPNs, offering a comprehensive overview of the role of molecular abnormalities in pathogenesis and discussing how these findings might guide treatments targeting vulnerabilities and reduce mutant allele burden in MPNs. 

Dr. Wei Chen
Dr. Fei Li
Dr. Qiang Jeremy Wen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.longhoe.net by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Cancers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • MPNs
  • ET
  • PV
  • PMF
  • post-PV-MF
  • post-ET-MF
  • MDS/MPN
  • JAK2

Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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