Study on Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Chronic Eosinophilic Leukemia CEL/Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (CEL/HES).

Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4637-4637
Author(s):  
Zhijian Xiao ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
JianXiang Wang ◽  
Yushu Hao

Abstract Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) was a group of diseases associated with persistent eosinophilia without unknown causes, companied with tissue and organ impairments. In 2001, WHO classification of hematopoietic and lymphoid neoplasms classified chronic eosinophilic leukemia (CEL) / HES into the category of chronic myeloproliferative disease, and proposed that the principal basis for the identification of CEL and HES was whether to have the evidence of eosinophils clonal proliferation: CEL had the evidence of eosinophils clonal proliferation, while HES was lack of the evidence of eosinophils clonal proliferation. In this study, 20 cases of CEL/ HES patients were analyzed retrospectively, and nested RT-PCR was used to detect FIP1L1-PDGFRA (F/P) fusion gene; Allele-specific PCR (ASP) conjoint sequencing analysis was used to detect JAK2 V617F, and PCR-RFLP was adopted to detect the mutation status of JAK2 V617F; and PCR is applied to detect TCRγ rearrangement. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of CEL and HES were compared. The ratio of male and female in the 20 cases of patients was 19:1, and the median age was 33 (20–57). F/P detection was positive for 12 cases, and the sequencing confirmed that FIP1L1 break point was at intron 10–12, while PDGFRA break point was at exon 12. There was 1 case of patient found that had JAK2 V617F, and the mutation status analysis showed that it was the mutation on heterozygote. 6 cases were detected having TCRγ gene rearrangement, of which 4 cases were CEL patients, and other 2 cases were HES patients. Most of CEL patients had respiratory symptoms in the early stage, easily companied with circulatory systematic impairment and nervous systematic symptoms. The incidence of splenomegaly of CEL patients was obviously higher than that of HES patients (92.5% vs 42.5%, p=0.031), so did the incidence of anemia and myelofibrosis. There was no difference in EO, WBC, PLT and EO% in peripheral blood as well as bone-marrow eosinophils percentage and bone-marrow primitive cells’ percentage between two groups. Abnormal morphology of eosinophils was often found in CEL patients, with the main manifestation of eosinopenia, basopenia and plasma vacuoles. Our data showed that Eosinophilia is often caught by male, mainly by the young; CEL patients have the main manifestation of the circulatory systematic, respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms, and have a high incidence of anemia and thrombocytopenia. The routine examination has a little significance for the identification o CEL and HES, while the bone marrow smears morphological examination has a certain help for the diagnosis of CEL; Some HES patients have JAK2 V617F mutation, and further studies on the effect of JAK2 V617F mutation on the pathogenesis of HES can contribute to the diagnosis of such patients in the future and the development of the new targeted drug therapy; Some CEL patients have TCRγ rearrangement, while the relationship of CEL and TCRγ needs a further study.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 854-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Malcovati ◽  
Matteo G. Della Porta ◽  
Daniela Pietra ◽  
Anna Galli ◽  
Erica Travaglino ◽  
...  

Abstract The most common type of acquired sideroblastic anemia is the myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) defined as refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RARS). We have previously demonstrated that mitochondrial iron accumulation in this condition is in the form of mitochondrial ferritin (MtF). A gain-of-function mutation of JAK2 is found in most patients with chronic myeloproliferative disorders. A high frequency of this mutation has been also reported in RARS associated with marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T), a provisional entity characterized by marked increase in platelet count, hypercellular marrow with increased megakaryocytes, and ringed sideroblasts. In this study, we investigated the granulocyte JAK2 (V617F) mutation status in 73 patients receiving a diagnosis of myeloid malignancy with ringed sideroblasts at the Division of Hematology, University of Pavia Medical School & IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Pavia, Italy between 2001 and 2006. According to the WHO classification of the myeloid neoplasms, 23 patients had RARS, 17 had refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia and ringed sideroblasts (RCMD-RS), 16 had refractory anemia with blasts excess, four had MDS with isolated del(5q), and 13 fulfilled the criteria for RARS-T. JAK2 (V617F) mutation status was analyzed on peripheral blood granulocytes through a quantitative real time PCR-based allelic discrimination assay. We compared clinical and biological features of patients with RARS-T with those of patients with refractory anemia or cytopenia with ringed sideroblasts, and found that RARS-T patients had higher neutrophil and platelet counts, lower frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities and higher incidence of the JAK2 (V617F) mutation (P values ranging from <.001 to .02). JAK2 (V617F) was detected in six out of 63 evaluable cases (9.5%), one being diagnosed as MDS with isolated del(5q) and five as RARS-T, resulting in an incidence of mutation in the latter group of 45%. The proportion of mutant alleles ranged between 2.8% and 18.4%, values commonly observed by us in essential thrombocythemia [Blood. 2006 May 1;107(9):3676–82]. Focusing the analysis on RARS-T, a significantly higher hemoglobin level at diagnosis was found in mutated (median value 11.2 g/dL, range 10.1–15.4) compared with non mutated patients (median value 9 g/dL, range 6–9.9) (P=.009). JAK2-positive patients also showed a significantly lower percentage of ringed sideroblasts in the bone marrow (P=.01), and an increased marrow reticulin fibrosis (P=.03). We then evaluated the clonality of hematopoiesis in female patients through analysis of X-chromosome inactivation patterns (XCIPs) in circulating granulocytes and bone marrow CD34-positive cells. Twenty-one out of 23 informative female patients with ringed sideroblasts (91%), as well as 5/6 RARS-T (83%) displayed a clonal pattern of X-chromosome inactivation. These observations suggest that refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts with marked thrombocytosis is a clonal stem cell disorder significantly associated with the JAK2 (V617F) mutation. This disorder shows both dysplastic and proliferative features, the presence of the mutation being associated with a predominant myeloproliferative phenotype. The recognition of a heterogeneous genetic background in myeloid neoplasms with ringed sideroblasts suggests that different mechanisms might be involved in the induction of mitochondrial ferritin expression in these disorders.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 2586-2586
Author(s):  
Francesco Passamonti ◽  
Elisa Rumi ◽  
Emanuela Boveri ◽  
Daniela Pietra ◽  
Laura Vanelli ◽  
...  

Abstract A gain-of-function mutation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene has been recently reported in patients with polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET) and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF) [N Engl J Med. 2005 Apr 28;352(17):1779–90]. Abnormal trafficking of CD34-positive cells with increased numbers in the peripheral blood is found in CIMF and in advanced stages of other myeloproliferative disorders. To determine whether the unique JAK2 V617F mutation affects the mobilization of CD34-positive cells into peripheral blood, we studied the relationship between JAK2 mutation status, bone marrow and circulating CD34-positive cells in 72 patients diagnosed according to the WHO criteria. A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based allelic discrimination assay was used for the quantitative detection of the JAK2 V617F alleles in circulating granulocytes. Bone marrow CD34-positive cells were quantitatively assed on paraffin immunostained sections, while circulating CD34-positive cells were enumerated by flow cytometry using a single-platform assay. Overall, 57% of the patients studied carried the JAK2 V617F mutation. Within these patients, median values for JAK2 V617F alleles in circulating granulocytes were as follows: 29% in PV, 4% in ET, 12% in prefibrotic CIMF, 27% in fibrotic CIMF, and 99% in post-PV myelofibrosis. The vast majority of circulating granulocytes were homozygous for the mutation in all but one of patients with post-PV myelofibrosis. Decreased numbers of bone marrow CD34-positive cells and increased counts of circulating CD34-positive cells were detected in patients with fibrotic bone marrow. The higher the degree of fibrosis, the higher the circulating CD34-positive cell count (P<0.001) and the lower the bone marrow CD34-positive cell count (P<0.01). All patients with PV, ET and prefibrotic CIMF, and 7 out of 21 patients with fibrotic CIMF had circulating CD34-positive cell counts lower than 10 x 106/L. Conversely, all patients with post-PV myelofibrosis had counts higher than 10 x 106/L. In univariate analysis, there was an inverse relationship between percentage of JAK2 V617F alleles and bone marrow CD34-positive cells (r=−0.35, P<0.01), and a direct relationship between percentage of JAK2 mutant alleles and circulating CD34-positive cells (r=0.46, P=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that disease category (P=0.0008) and percentage of JAK2 V617F alleles (P=0.03) were independently related to circulating CD34-positive cell counts. These observations suggest that the JAK2 V617F mutation might be involved in the constitutive mobilization of CD34-positive cells into peripheral blood that is found in patients with myeloproliferative disorder. Nonetheless, constitutive mobilization is present in a considerable portion of patients who do not carry the JAK2 mutation, pointing to additional pathogenetic mechanisms. Findings on patients with PV suggest that transition form heterozygosity to homozygosity for JAK2 V617F may represent an important step in the progression of PV to myelofibrosis. Thus, sequential evaluation of the percentage of JAK2 mutant alleles and enumeration of circulating CD34-positive cells may be useful for disease monitoring in PV.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 107 (9) ◽  
pp. 3676-3682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Passamonti ◽  
Elisa Rumi ◽  
Daniela Pietra ◽  
Matteo G. Della Porta ◽  
Emanuela Boveri ◽  
...  

We studied the relationship between granulocyte JAK2 (V617F) mutation status, circulating CD34+ cells, and granulocyte activation in myeloproliferative disorders. Quantitative allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed significant differences between various disorders with respect to either the proportion of positive patients (53%-100%) or that of mutant alleles, which overall ranged from 1% to 100%. In polycythemia vera, JAK2 (V617F) was detected in 23 of 25 subjects at diagnosis and in 16 of 16 patients whose disease had evolved into myelofibrosis; median percentages of mutant alleles in these subgroups were significantly different (32% versus 95%, P < .001). Circulating CD34+ cell counts were variably elevated and associated with disease category and JAK2 (V617F) mutation status. Most patients had granulocyte activation patterns similar to those induced by administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. A JAK2 (V617F) gene dosage effect on both CD34+ cell counts and granulocyte activation was clearly demonstrated in polycythemia vera, where abnormal patterns were mainly found in patients carrying more than 50% mutant alleles. These observations suggest that JAK2 (V617F) may constitutively activate granulocytes and by this means mobilize CD34+ cells. This exemplifies a novel paradigm in which a somatic gain-of-function mutation is initially responsible for clonal expansion of hematopoietic cells and later for their abnormal trafficking via an activated cell progeny.


Blood ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 106 (11) ◽  
pp. 3503-3503
Author(s):  
Ruben A. Mesa ◽  
Ayalew Tefferi ◽  
Heather Powell ◽  
Terra Lasho ◽  
David Loegering ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: We have previously described a resistance to the normal process of apoptosis in neutrophils of patients with myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM) (Blood2003;102:11). Most recently, an activating mutation of JAK2 (V617F) has been described in approximately half of the patients with MMM as well as in variable proportion of patients with other myeloproliferative disorders (MPD). In the current study, we investigated the correlation between JAK2 V617F mutation status and neutrophil apoptosis in MMM. Methods: Neutrophils were isolated by density centrifugation from patients with MMM, other MPDs, and normal controls and assessed for apoptosis at baseline and after 24 hours in culture (IMDM with 20% sterilized fetal calf serum to simulate spontaneous apoptosis). Apoptosis was quantified using three-color flow cytometry using CD45 (to confirm leukocyte presence), annexin V (AN) (marker of apoptosis; detects aberrant externalization of phosphatidylserine during apoptosis), and propidium iodide (PI) (marker of dead cells). Mutation analysis for JAK2 V617F was performed in DNA derived from the isolated neutrophils using genomic DNA amplified by PCR, or extracted from cytogenetic pellets in archived specimens. Apoptotic rates after 24 hours in culture were correlated between patients and controls for both JAK2 mutation status and clinical parameters. Immunoblotting was performed on a subset of patients for correlation of JAK2 mutation status and downstream phosphorylation of the JAK2 target, STAT3, which transcriptionally activates several antiapoptotic genes. Results: Spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis was significantly decreased in MMM patients (n=50; median % apoptotic cells at 41%) compared to both healthy volunteers (n=9; 66%) and patients with other MPD (n=11; 53%) (p=0.002). Resistance to apoptosis in MMM correlated with both anemia (p=0.01) and the presence of the JAK2 V617F mutation (p=0.01). Furthermore, the specific abnormality was more pronounced in patients with homozygous JAK2 V617F; median % apoptotic cells of 47% for patients with wild-type allele (n=22) vs. 39% for heterozygotes (n=23) vs. 22% for homozygotes (n=5; p=0.008). The JAK2 mutation status did not appear dependent on other peripheral blood or clinical features. Neutrophils from 14 MMM patients were assessed simultaneously for both JAK2 mutation and STAT3 phosphorylation status by immunoblotting. Strong expression of phosphorylation of STAT3 was seen in all 3 homozygotes and 4 of 5 heterozygotes, but only 1 of 6 with wild-type allele (p=0.026). Conclusions: Impaired neutrophil apoptosis in patients with MMM correlates with the functional presence of JAK2 V617F in an allele-dose dependent manner and STAT3 phosphorylation. The current observation supports a pathogenetic role for the specific mutation in sustaining clonal myeloproliferation.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 3633-3633
Author(s):  
Guoxian Sun ◽  
Frank Buccini ◽  
Elizabeth Fuentes ◽  
James Weisberger

Abstract Detection of JAK2 V617F mutation is quickly becoming a front-line screening test for suspected myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs), as the mutation shows high frequency and specificity in non-CML MPDs, PV, ET or CIMF. Routine cytogenetics can detect chromosome abnormalities in approximately 20% of MPDs and is very helpful in establishing or confirming the presence of aberrant clonality, although chromosome changes are often numerical gains and losses, deemed non-specific. To see if there is correlation between JAK2 mutation and karyotypes, we studied 57 consecutive patients with clinically and morphologically confirmed diagnosis of non-CML MPDs. JAK2 V617F mutation performed using allele-specific PCR (sensitive to 10% using pyrosequencing) was found in 72% of patients (41/57), whereas clonal chromosome abnormalities were observed in 15.8% (9/57). There was no correlation between JAK2 mutational status and karyotypes. In 41 patients positive for the JAK2 mutation, 6 were cytogenetically abnormal and 35 normal. In 16 patients negative for the mutation, 3 showed abnormal karyotypes and 13 had normal karyotypes (X2 test, p>0.5). Among 6 patients with both JAK2 mutation and an abnormal karyotype, JAK2 mutation was seen in >50% of each sample in 4 patients, consistent with a homozygous mutation. Interestingly, in two cases, one with PV and trisomy 9 and another with MPD unclassifiable and trisomy 9p resulting from an unbalanced translocation between chromosomes 9p and 13, JAK2 mutation was present in >65% of each sample. Trisomy 9 and trisomy 9p are common abnormalities in MPDs, particularly in PV, seen in over 20% of cytogenetically abnormal cases. JAK2 gene is located on 9p24. Mitotic recombination is considered the most likely cause of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and thus mutant homozygosity which is undetectable at the cytogenetic level. However, in cases with trisomy 9 or 9p, the JAK2 allele genotypes may be G/T/T and/or T/T/T as well as the usual G/T and/or T/T. Our observations suggest that trisomy 9 or 9p should be taken into consideration when interpreting JAK2 mutation status and that further molecular studies are needed to delineate the implication of trisomy 9 or 9p in potential mutant allele selective advantage and clonal evolution in JAK2 mutation positive MPDs.


Blood ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 110 (11) ◽  
pp. 4638-4638
Author(s):  
Zhjian Xiao ◽  
Yue Zhang ◽  
Jianxiang Wang ◽  
Yushu Hao

Abstract The chronic myeloproliferative disorders (cMPDs) are a group of clonal malignant tumors of the hematological system, and derived from the pluripotential hemopoietic stem cells, manifested as the proliferation of one or more series of cells in the bone marrow as well as the occurrence of excessive mature or naive cells in the peripheral blood. It was reported by several research groups that there was the acquired JAK2 V617F mutation in the majority of the PV patients and in a part of the ET or PMF patients, which provided the new ideas for the investigation of the pathogenesis of BCR/ABL- cMPDs. In the present study, the JAK2 V617F mutation was detected in a larger collection of Chinese cMPD patients, to give a picture of the incidence of JAK2 V617F mutation in the Asian pollutions. A total of 523 patients with the cMPDs, including 278 males and 245 females, were analyzed. Their median age was 50 years old (7 to 83 years old). According to the WHO diagnostic criteria, among the 523 patients were 88 cases of CML at the chronic phase (including 59 males and 29 females with a median age of 40 years old), 25 of CML complicated with myelofibrosis, 116 of PV (64 males and 52 females; a median age of 53; among them were six cases of PV with the secondary myelofibrosis), 153 of ET (63 males and 91 females; a median age of 50; 15 cases of ET with the secondary myelofibrosis), 142 of PMF (71 males and 71 females; a median age of 53.5), four of unclassified CMPD (CMPD-U) (2 males and 2 females; a median age of 60), seven of high eosinophil syndrome (HES) (6 males and 1 female; a median age of 32), and 13 of chronic eosinophilic leukemia (13 males; a median age of 34). In addition, 140 of healthy adults were included in the control group. Allele-specific PCR (ASP) was applied to identify JAK2 V617F mutation, the mutation status was analyzed by PCR-RFLP, and the results were confirmed by sequence analysis. The mutation load was calculated by the ratio of T/G. Then explore the correlation between the allele load and the clinical, hematologic features. To those without JAK2 V617F, MPL W515L mutation was analyzed. JAK2 V617F was detected in 66%(346/523) of all patients (94%(109/116) in PV, 79%(122/153) in ET, 78%(111/142) in PMF, 75%(3/4) in CMPD-U and 14%(1/7) in HES).Majority of patients carried JAK2 V617F mutation were heterozygous, homozygote was found in only 5 cases (4 in PV and 1 in ET). The mutation load in majority patients (71.5%) was low, PV>ET>MF when compared with mutation load (p=0.003). Hemoglobin level was significantly related to high mutation load in PV (p=0.033, r=0.203). Bone marrow megakaryocyte counts were found to be marked increased in ET with high JAK2 V617F loads (P=0.024, r=0.205), and hepatomegaly in PMF was also significiently associated with high JAK2 V617F mution load (p=0.003, 0.001)(p=0.001, r=0.315). Oue data showed that Majority of cMPD patients, especialy with PV, carried JAK2 V617F mutation, but JAK2 V617F was absent in CML; 98% of JAK2 V617F mutation occurs in a heterozygous status, only 4 patients with PV and 1 with ET were homozygouse.; PV> ET> MF when compared with mutation load. High JAK2 V617F loads were found to be significantly associated with higher hemoglobin level in PV and higher bone marrow megakaryocyte counts in ET; The correlation between hepatomegaly and JAK2 V617F mutation load were also found in PMF.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (11) ◽  
pp. 5228-5228
Author(s):  
Kohtaro Toyama ◽  
Norifumi Tsukamoto ◽  
Akio Saito ◽  
Hirotaka Nakahashi ◽  
Yoko Hashimoto ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The gain-of-function point mutation in Janus kinase 2 exon 14 gene (JAK2-V617F) influences the diagnosis of bcr/abl-negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPDs). We previously reported that analyzing platelets is advantageous in detecting the JAK2-V617F mutation, particularly in essential thrombocythemia (ET), when compared to granulocytes. However, there have been few reports analyzing the JAK2-V617F mutation in erythroid lineage cells, and comparing the mutation status in all three lineages. Method Study protocols were approved by the Institutional Review Board of Gunma University Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from all the patients. Heparinized peripheral blood was obtained from 113 patients with CMPDs (82 with ET, 25 with polycythemia vera (PV), and 6 with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). After centrifugation, platelets were collected from the upper plasma layer. Remaining blood was mixed with Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution and was subjected to Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. Granulocytes were obtained from the pellet. Mononuclear cells were resuspended in RPMI 1640 medium; 5 × 105 cells were plated in duplicate in 1 ml of methylcellulose medium and cultured in a humidified atmosphere of 5 % of carbon dioxide at 37°C for 14 days in the presence of erythropoietin to obtain erythroid colonies (BFU-E). T-cells were obtained from the remaining mononuclear cells using anti-CD3 immunoconjugated magnetic beads. After extraction of DNA from granulocytes, T-cells and BFU-E, and RNA extraction from granulocytes and platelets, PCR amplification and sequencing of exon 14 of the Jak2 gene was performed to confirm the presence of JAK2-V617F mutations. To confirm the mutation status of granulocytes, T-cells and BFU-E, allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) was performed. Results For ET, 57 out of 82 patients (69.5%) had the JAK2-V617F mutation. In the 57 patients with the JAK2-V617F mutation, 38 (67%) had the mutation in all three lineages, 5 had the mutation in granulocytes and platelets, 2 had the mutation in platelets and BFU-E, 10 patients had the mutation only in platelets and 2 patients had the mutation only in BFU-E. In contrast, for PV, 22/25 patients (88%) had the JAK2-V617F mutation. Of note, in 22 patients having JAK2-V617F mutation, 20 (91%) were JAK2-V617F mutation-positive in all three lineages; the remaining two patients had the mutation in either platelets or BFU-E. The frequency of JAK2-V617F in all three lineages was significantly higher in PV than in ET (p &lt; 0.05). For PMF, 5 of 6 patients had the mutation in granulocytes, and 3 of these had it in all three lineages. Conclusion Among JAK2-V617F mutation-positive CMPDs, most PV patients had the JAK2-V617F mutation in all three lineages, thus suggesting that the JAK2-V617F mutation occurs in progenitor cell(s) common to granulocytes, platelets and erythrocytes. In contrast, only 67% of ET patients had the JAK2-V617F mutation in three lineages; in the remaining cases, not all of the three lineages have the mutation. This difference in lineages showing the JAK2-V617F mutation between the ET and PV may be related to the pathophysiological differences in ET and PV. Furthermore, the heterogeneous mutation status in ET may be related to its heterogeneous clinical manifestation.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 4871-4871
Author(s):  
Martin Bornhaeuser ◽  
Brigitte Mohr ◽  
Uta Oelschlaegel ◽  
Peter Bornhauser ◽  
Swen Jacki ◽  
...  

Abstract Myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis (ET) and chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF) are clonal hematopoietic diseases with clinical similarities including the risk of transformation into acute myelogeneous leukemia. By definition, these diseases have been separated from Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) CML requiring negativity for the BCR-ABL transcript in PCR studies of bone marrow or peripheral blood. Several groups independently discovered a gain of function mutation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) gene in Ph-negative myeloproliferative diseases. This mutation has been associated with the proliferation of clonogenic progenitors independently of exogenous cytokine stimulation. A sixty-six year old male patient presented with moderate splenomegaly (3 cm under the costal marigin), mild anemia (11.3 g/dl), elevated lactate deyhdrogenase, an increased count of circulating CD34+ cells and a dry bone marrow aspirate. Marrow histology confirmed a prefibrotic stage of chronic idiopathic myelofibrosis (CIMF). Metaphase cytogenetics as well as BCR-ABL FISH were performed on samples from bone marrow, blood and sorted CD34+, CD3+, CD19+ and CD14+ cells from a steady-state back-up leukapheresis. The JAK2(V617F) mutation was confirmed by an allele-specific PCR assay. A screen for BCR-ABL was performed by FISH and PCR in sorted cells as well as in individual colonies (CFU-GM and CFU-E). Four Philadelphia-chromosome positive metaphases could be detected out of 86 derived from the autologous leukapheresis product harvested and cryopreserved as back-up shortly after diagnosis. The BCR-ABL translocation could be detected by fluorescence in-situ hybridisation (FISH) in 2/16 (12.5%) isolated granulocyte/macrophage colonies only whereas all erythroid colonies were negative. The JAK2 mutation was detectable in all clones and was enriched in CD34+ selected cells. The patient experienced progressive splenomegaly despite the achievement of a molecular response measured by quantitative BCR-ABL PCR after treatment with imatinib mesylate. Our in-vitro investigations suggest that the secondary BCR-ABL translocation within the myeloid compartment was of minor pathophysiological relevance in this patient with CIMF harbouring a heterozygous JAK2 mutation.


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