Myeloproliferative neoplasms: From JAK2 mutations discovery to JAK2 inhibitor therapies

Francesco Passamonti 1 , Margherita Maffioli 1 , Domenica Caramazza 1 , Mario Cazzola 2 1 Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy 2 Division of Hematology, Department of Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy Keywords: myelofibrosis, polycythemia, thrombocythemia, JAK2 Received: May 30, 2011; Accepted: June 1, 2011; Published: June 5, 2011; Correspondence: Francesco Passamonti, e-mail: // // Abstract Most BCR-ABL1 -negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) carry an activating JAK2 mutation. Approximately 96% of patients with polycythemia vera (PV) harbors the V617F mutation in JAK2 exon 14, whereas the minority of JAK2 (V617F)-negative subjects shows several mutations in exon 12. Other mutation events as MPL , TET2 , LNK , EZH2 have been described in chronic phase, while NF1 , IDH1 , IDH2 , ASX1 , CBL and  Ikaros in blast phase of MPN. The specific pathogenic implication of these mutations is under investigation, but they may have a role in refinement of diagnostic criteria and in development of new prognostic models. Several trials with targeted therapy ( JAK inhibitors) are ongoing mostly involving patients with PMF, post-PV MF and post-essential thrombocythemia (ET) MF. Treatment with ruxolitinib  and TG101348  has shown clinically significant benefits, particularly in improvement of splenomegaly and constitutional symptoms in MF patients. On the other hand, JAK inhibitors have not thus far shown disease-modifying activity therefore any other deduction on these new drugs seems premature.