Combination therapy with interferon and JAK1-2 inhibitor is feasible: Proof of concept with rapid reduction in JAK2 V617F-allele burden in polycythemia vera

• Published in: Leukemia research reports Vol. 3; no. 2; pp. 73 - 75
• Main Authors: Bjørn, M.E, de Stricker, K, Kjær, L, Ellemann, K, Hasselbalch, H.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Pathology; Ruxolitinib; Polycythemia vera; Interferon; Combination therapy; JAK2V617F-allele burden
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lrr.2014.05.003
• ISSN: 2213-0489

Abstract We report a 55 year old woman with post-ET PV for 12 years, who experienced resolution of severe constitutional symptoms within 3 days, a marked reduction in splenomegaly and a rapid decline in the JAK2 V617F allele burden during combination therapy with interferon-alpha2a and ruxolitinib. Within 4 weeks the patient achieved complete hematological remission with normalization of peripheral blood counts and within 10 months the JAK2 V617F-allele burden was reduced from 90% to 28%. Such a rapid decline in the JAK2 V617F allele burden is highly unusual in PV-patients during low-dose IFN-alpha2 monotherapy and this finding warrants a prospective study with combination therapy.