Cancer Health Center

A link to a list of current clinical trials is included for each treatment section. For some types or stages of cancer, there may not be any trials listed. Check with your doctor for clinical trials that are not listed here but may be right for you.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

See the PDQ summary on Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treatment for information.

Polycythemia Vera

The purpose of treatment for polycythemia vera is to reduce the number of extra bloodcells. Treatment of polycythemia vera may include the following:

• Phlebotomy.
• Chemotherapy with or without phlebotomy.
• Biologic therapy using interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alpha..
• Low-doseaspirin.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with polycythemia vera. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Primary Myelofibrosis

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

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

• Transfusion of red blood cells to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life.
• Biologic therapy using interferon alfa or erythropoieticgrowth factors.
• Splenectomy.
• Radiation therapy to the spleen.
• Chemotherapy.
• Donorstem cell transplant.
• Thalidomide or lenalidomide.
• A clinical trial of a targeted therapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with primary myelofibrosis. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Essential Thrombocythemia

Treatment of essential thrombocythemia in patients younger than 60 years who have no symptoms and an acceptable platelet count is usually watchful waiting. Treatment of other patients may include the following:

• Chemotherapy.
• Anagrelidetherapy.
• Biologic therapy using interferon alfa or pegylated interferon alpha.
• Platelet apheresis.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with essential thrombocythemia. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Chronic Neutrophilic Leukemia

Treatment of chronic neutrophilic leukemia may include the following:

• Donor bone marrow transplant.
• Chemotherapy.
• Biologic therapy using interferon alfa.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with chronic neutrophilic leukemia. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.

Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia

Treatment of chronic eosinophilic leukemia may include the following:

• Bone marrow transplant.
• Biologic therapy using interferon alfa.
• A clinical trial of a new treatment.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's list of cancer clinical trials that are now accepting patients with chronic eosinophilic leukemia. For more specific results, refine the search by using other search features, such as the location of the trial, the type of treatment, or the name of the drug. General information about clinical trials is available from the NCI Web site.