title: Sustained major molecular response on interferon alpha-2b in two patients with polycythemia vera.
abstract: Quantitative assessment of the JAK2 V617F allele burden during disease evolution and ongoing myelosuppressive treatment is likely to be implemented in the future clinical setting. Interferon alpha has demonstrated efficacy in treatment of both chronic myeloid leukemia and the Philadelphia chromosome negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders. Reductions in the JAK2 V617F allele burden in patients treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a (Peg-IFN-2a) have been demonstrated, although follow-up was relatively short. We report here the first profound and sustained molecular responses with a JAK2 V617F allele burden below 1.0% in two patients with polycythemia vera treated with interferon alpha-2b (IFN-2b). Discontinuation of IFN-2b in one of the patients was followed by a sustained long-lasting (12 months of follow-up) major molecular response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital, Sdr. Boulevard, 5000, Odense C, Denmark. thomas.stauffer.larsen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Bjerrum
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pallisgaard
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Møller
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Hasselbalch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D053614:Janus Kinase 2