Comparison of the Mutational Profiles of Primary Myelofibrosis, Polycythemia Vera, and Essential Thrombocytosis

Objectives: To compare the mutational profiles of patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF), polycythemia vera (PV), and essential thrombocytosis (ET).

Methods: Next-generation sequencing results of 75 cases of PMF, 33 cases of PV, and 27 cases of ET were compared.

Results: Mutation rates of ASXL1 and SRSF2 were significantly higher in PMF than in PV or ET. ASXL1 mutations appeared to be more frequently associated with risk of transformation to acute myeloid leukemia than JAK2 or TET2 mutations. The most common mutation-cytogenetic combinations in myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) were mutations of JAK2 or ASXL1 with del(20q) and were more common in patients with PMF and PV than in patients with ET. Differences were also found between patients with PMF and PV.

Conclusions: PMF, PV, and ET show different mutational profiles, which may be helpful in resolving the differential diagnosis between MPNs. Due to the relatively small number of cases and variable testing over time, larger controlled studies are necessary to confirm the findings.