title: Minimal residual disease and normalization of the bone marrow after long-term treatment with alpha-interferon2b in polycythemia vera. A report on molecular response patterns in seven patients in sustained complete hematological remission.
abstract: Polycythemia vera (PV) is characterized by the presence of the JAK2V617F mutation in virtually all patients. Several studies have shown that the JAK2V617F mutational load decreases during treatment with alpha-interferon 2. We report on molecular and histomorphological bone marrow responses in seven PV patients with profound molecular responses during and after long-term treatment with alpha-interferon 2b. All patients obtained a major molecular response (MMR). Subsequently all patients discontinued alpha-interferon and sustained complete hematological remission with a follow-up period of median 10 months (range 4-30 months). Complete normalization of the bone marrow was seen in three of five patients. Long term treatment with IFN2b is able to induce 'minimal residual disease' with very low JAK2 V617F allele burden and may induce profound, and in some patients total, regression of histomorphological bone marrow features of PV. Finally, hematological remissions and major molecular responses can be sustained after discontinuation of long-term treatment with IFN2b.
authors: Department of Hematology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Thomas.stauffer.larsen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors: Thomas Stauffer
authors: TS
authors: Larsen
authors: Michael Boe
authors: MB
authors: Møller
authors: Karin
authors: K
authors: de Stricker
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Nørgaard
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Samuelsson
authors: Claus
authors: C
authors: Marcher
authors: Morten T
authors: MT
authors: Andersen
authors: Ole Weis
authors: OW
authors: Bjerrum
authors: Hans Carl
authors: HC
authors: Hasselbalch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C507924:JAK2 protein, human; D053614:Janus Kinase 2