New insights into the pathogenesis of JAK2 V617F-positive myeloproliferative disorders and consequences for the management of patients

Abstract

The identification of the JAK2 V617F mutation in patients with myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs) represents a major breakthrough in our understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases. One year after its discovery, an impressive number of publications appeared. These articles confirmed most of the initial results and tried to focus on the main issues arising from this discovery. JAK2 V617F came as recognition of the work of many investigators, starting with William Dameshek, who demonstrated that classical MPDs shared phenotypical mimicry and a general pattern of clinical evolution. We now know that this mutation is the common mark of a molecular clinical entity of MPD shared by 90% of polycythemia vera (PV) and approximately 50% of essential thrombocythemia and idiopathic myelofibrosis patients. However, many questions arise from this discovery. This review, in view of the recent literature, tries to address crucial questions regarding the mechanism of action and the clinical relevance of the JAK2 V617F mutation. The first question is how a unique mutation may explain the clinical diversity of JAK2 V617F-positive MPDs. We now know that acquisition of this mutation is only one step, and that gain of the JAK2 V617F locus, as gain in constitutive Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) activity, may represent another step in disease progression. It is still not known if and how this event or other unknown events may favor disease diversity and possibly disease onset. The second question is how the identification of the JAK2 V617F mutation will change our approach to patients. If detection of JAK2 V617F drastically simplifies the diagnosis of MPDs, and especially PV, prospective clinical trials will be necessary to determine if the therapeutic attitude and disease prognosis will depend on the presence of JAK2 V617F. The third question is how this discovery will benefit the patients. The immediate benefits are still difficult to evaluate, but this discovery, as a major advance in our understanding of the pathogenesis of MPDs, surely has opened perspectives for possible targeted therapies and raises new hopes for patients and clinicians.