According to a story from Cure Today, a recent study has found that identifying mutations in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms may be the key in predicting outcomes, such as disease progression or response. The are a variety of different types of myeloproliferative neoplasms, and this makes these predictions difficult to make using conventional methods.
About Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myeloproliferative neoplasms are a group of potentially cancerous diseases of the bone marrow which are characterized by the excessive production of cells. There are a a number of causes for the different kinds of myeloproliferative neoplasms, but that are often connected to genetic mutations impacting genes such as JAK2 and MPL. There are also a number of other mutations that can also potentially play a role. Types of myeloproliferative neoplasms, include chronic myeloid leukemia and mastocytosis, and primary myelofibrosis. Symptoms may not be present, but can appear depending on the type of neoplasm and the severity of disease. Some types increase the risk of blood clots. These diseases cannot be cured, but JAK2 inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors can be effective. These diseases have the potential to evolve into more dangerous cancers like acute myeloid leukemia. To learn more about myeloproliferative neoplasms, click here.
Study Data
The research looked a mutation data from a pool of 2,035 patients who had a variety of different types of myeloproliferative neoplasms. The scientists found that there were 33 genes that were linked to ‘driver mutations’ which contribute to the neoplasms. Mutations of JAK2, MPL, or CALR were found in 45 percent of the patients. There were a greater number of mutations in patients who were older or who had more advanced cases. One important finding was that MPL and TP53 mutations increased the risk that a patient’s disease could evolve and transform into acute myeloid leukemia.
A New Tool For Doctors
In total, the researchers were able to divide the patients into eight different groups that had connections to outcomes and disease patterns. This model could be a useful tool for caregivers that can help them determine how to treat patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms as well as to give patients a better understanding of how their disease could progress in the future.
Check out the original study here.
