Dr. Michaelis Discusses the JAK2 Mutation in MPNs

Laura Michaelis, MD, associate professor of medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses implications for the JAK2 mutation in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs).

There are certain driver mutations in MPNs that have been established for a long time, Michaelis says. The percentage of patients with any given driver mutation is different in any of the 3 types of MPNs—polycythemia vera, essential thrombocythemia (ET), and myelofibrosis. Ever since the first mutation was described, questions have been asked as to why some patients act one way while others act another.

One of the factors that describes a patient’s later risk is the presence of a JAK2 mutation, Michaelis explains. Treatment is being changed based on the presence of JAK2, especially in ET. Decision-making for the treatment of these patients is much different now than it was 2 or 3 years again, says Michaelis, which she attributes to the understanding of the JAK2 mutation.