Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are a group of blood cancers usually found when a blood test shows too many blood cells. These conditions can affect people of any age and are often discovered by chance. MPNs are classed by the World Health Organisation as blood cancers because the bone marrow produces blood cells in an uncontrolled way.
At Newcastle Hospitals, we run a specialist MPN service for patients with the following conditions:
- Essential thrombocythaemia (ET)
- Polycythaemia vera (PV)
- Primary myelofibrosis (PMF)
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
- Chronic neutrophilic leukaemia (CNL)
- Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL) and other eosinophilic disorders
- Mastocytosis
We mainly care for patients from the local Newcastle area, but we can also see patients from further afield for a second opinion after referral from their local haematologist.
Clinics
We run three specialist clinics within the Northern Centre for Cancer Care:
- Thursday afternoon clinic
- Wednesday afternoon CML clinic (pharmacist/nurse-led)
- Friday morning MPN clinic (pharmacist/nurse-led)
Some patients may be referred to other teams within haematology, such as the obstetric haematology clinic or the bone marrow transplant team. Patients aged 25 and under will also be offered support from the Teenage and Young Adult Service.
In addition, we use the Haematology Day Unit (Ward 36) for procedures such as bone marrow biopsies or venesection, when transfusions or intravenous medications are needed, or when patients need to be seen outside of clinic.
Our Team
- Dr Chris Carey – Consultant Haematologist
- Dr Andrew McGregor – Consultant Haematologist
- Professor Stephen O’Brien – Consultant Haematologist
- Dr Caroline Shrubsole – Consultant Haematologist
- Specialist Registrar
- Alvin Bencito – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Sumantha Gabriel – Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Specialist Haematology
- Ajay Varghese – specialist haematology pharmacist
- Emma Davis – MPN Secretary
- Roger Bishop – Clinic Volunteer
Clinical Trials
We have several clinical trials open for patients with MPNs:
- MITHRIDATE – for patients with polycythaemia vera, looking at the role of ruxolitinib (Principal Investigator: Dr McGregor)
- TRANSFORM-2 – for patients with myelofibrosis, studying navitoclax (Principal Investigator: Dr McGregor)
- SENTRY/XPORT – for patients with myelofibrosis, studying selinexor (Principal Investigator: Dr McGregor)
- MOSAICC – a UK-wide case-control study exploring the causes, quality of life, and unmet needs of people with MPNs (Principal Investigator: Dr McGregor)
- MK-3543-007 – for patients with essential thrombocythaemia, studying bomedemstat (Principal Investigator: Dr McGregor)
Dr McGregor is a member of the national UK Blood Cancer Research Network MPN and CML study groups (https://bloodcancer.org.uk/research/uk-blood-cancer-research-network-ukbcrn/haemato-oncology-research-group/)
Contacting the Team
If you have questions outside of clinic about your MPN medications or condition, please contact Alvin Bencito on 0191 213 9415. For appointment queries, please contact Emma Davis on 0191 213 8482.
Further Information
We hold an annual patient forum in collaboration with MPN Voice – the next event is on Friday 9 October 2026. Visit the MPN Voice website for more details.
Useful links:
- MPN Voice (https://www.mpnvoice.org.uk/) – National charity for people with PV, ET, and MF, offering patient leaflets, online forums, educational events, and a ‘buddy’ scheme.
- CML Support (https://cmlsupport.org.uk/) – Online group providing information and community support for people with chronic myeloid leukaemia.
- UK Masto (https://ukmasto.org/) – Information and support for people with mastocytosis.
