Two interesting reports on JAK-2 and CALR type ET

UPDATE: January 15, 2016: Ruben Mesa, hematologist with the Mayo Clinic offers a video summary of more ASH info. Click below to play.

Original post, December 16, 2015: The MPN Research Foundation (see links at left) puts out a yearly report from the American Society for Hematology (ASH). Research updates from this year's conference are online now. Among the papers presented were two that caught my eye about ET, and specifically about the differences between JAK-2 ET and CALR ET.

Caveat, caveat, blah blah blah: It's important to remember that most of these studies are are small and of relatively short duration. It's also important to note that the genetic components involved in ET are relatively new discoveries. So I'm not making life decisions around this info. But the message I got is that it's probably important for you and your hematologist to try to nail down the type of genetic mutation that causes your ET if possible.

Here's more:

Gender seems to be a factor in the progression of ET to another MPN , but there's a difference between those with JAK-2 and CALR mutations.

A six-year study showed that of those with JAK-2 ET are twice as likely to be female. Among those with CALR ET the gender difference was roughly equal.

The study also showed that women with JAK-2 ET were less likely to see an evolution in their disease compared to men (66 percent of women did not see their ET morph to another MPN compared to 54 percent of men). More on the morph rates below:

Progression of ET to PV: 25 percent of men vs. 34 percent of women
Progression of ET to MF: 17 percent of men vs. 14 percent of women
Progression of ET to AML: 4 percent of men vs. 0.8 percent of women  

Among those with CALR ET, no patients evolved to PV, but the progression to other MPNs differed between genders:

Progression of ET to MF: 19 percent of men vs. 26 percent of women
Progression of ET to AML: 0 percent of men vs. 3 percent of women

Platelet-lowering therapy for those with CALR ET might not be helpful in reducing thrombosis risk, but could increase major bleeding incidents.  This three-year study tracked two groups of CALR ET patients, one receiving anti-platelet therapy and the other being monitored closely. After factoring in age and other risks, the study showed that anti-platelet therapy did not reduce the risk of thrombosis in these patients. The study also showed that those receiving anti-platelet therapy had a 5 percent chance of a major bleeding episode as a result of their meds, while none in the observation group did.

Be well!

Read more about my JAK-2 test on the blog: How 'bout a dash of mutation with that genetic cocktail?

Read more on the blog: JAK-2 or CALR

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