Ruxolitinib as potential targeted therapy for patients with JAK2 rearrangements

Haematologica. 2013 Mar;98(3):404-8. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2012.067959. Epub 2012 Aug 8.

Abstract

JAK2 fusion genes are rare but recurrent abnormalities associated with diverse, clinically heterogeneous hematologic malignancies. Here we assess the JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib as therapy for patients with JAK2-rearrangement associated myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Ruxolitinib-treated Ba/F3 cells transformed to IL3 independence by ETV6-JAK2 showed reduced proliferation and survival (IC(50) = 370 nM) compared with KG1A or Ba/F3 cells transformed by BCR-ABL1, SPBN1-FLT3 and ZMYM2-FGFR1 (IC(50) > 10 μM for all). Inhibition was associated with reduced phosphorylation of ETV6-JAK2, ERK, STAT5 and AKT. Primary cell growth from 2 patients with JAK2 rearrangement and one patient with JAK2 amplification was assessed in methylcellulose assays. Reduced colony growth was seen for all patients in ruxolitinib-treated cultures compared with healthy controls (n=7). Fluorescence in situ hybridization showed reduced growth of JAK2-rearrangement positive colonies compared to JAK2-rearrangement negative colonies. Our data, therefore, provide evidence that ruxolitinib is a promising therapy for treatment of patients with JAK2 fusion genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Amplification
  • Humans
  • Janus Kinase 2 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Janus Kinase 2 / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / diagnosis
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / drug therapy
  • Myeloproliferative Disorders / genetics
  • Nitriles
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Pyrazoles / pharmacology*
  • Pyrazoles / therapeutic use
  • Pyrimidines
  • Recombination, Genetic*
  • Translocation, Genetic

Substances

  • Nitriles
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • TEL-JAK2 fusion protein, human
  • ruxolitinib
  • Janus Kinase 2