Atrial fibrillation and MPN patients with Jak2 mutation
A recently published research article may be of interest to MPN patients with the Jak2 mutation. It is titled ‘Incidence, Outcomes and Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With JAK2V617F-Positive Myeloproliferative Neoplasms‘. The article was published in Cancer Medicine in July 2025.
The researchers retrospectively analysed clinical profiles of 439 Chinese MPN patients with the Jak2 mutation from several hospitals in China between 2017 and March 2025. The researchers’ intention was to consider specific risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) in the MPN patient population which they felt “have not been fully elucidated”.
The researchers concluded that:
- “atrial fibrillation was significantly associated with higher risks of stroke and mortality in patients with JAK2V617F-positive MPN.
- TET2 mutation and increased IL-1ß were independent risk factors of AF in patients with JAK2V617F-positive MPN.”
- They also noted that “interferon-alfa and ruxolitinib were associated with improved AF-free survival in patients in the high-risk group.”
The paper is freely available to read in full HERE.
International review series on MPNs published
The April 2025 edition of Haematologica features an excellent review series on MPNs.
The authors of the introduction paper to the series, Australia’s Drs Steven Lane and Yin Yuan, explain that ‘the review series is not designed to be a definitive review of all aspects of MPN biology and treatment. Rather, we have selected a few key topics of particular interest to the field that have been informed by recent advances in basic or clinical research’.
In addition to the paper from Drs Steven Lane and Yin Yuan, paper no 4, ‘Pathogenesis and management of high molecular risk myeloproliferative neoplasms’ also features two Australian coauthors, haematologist and researcher Dr Victoria Ling and researcher Dr Megan Bywater.
The papers are all free to access and linked below:
- Prevention, diagnosis and management of myeloproliferative neoplasms: an introduction to a review series,
- Evolution of myeloproliferative neoplasms from normal blood stem cells,
- ‘Clinical and laboratory approaches to target and eradicate early disease-initiating stem cells’:
Paper is titled New approaches to standard of care in early-phase myeloproliferative neoplasms: can interferon-a alter the natural history of the disease?, - Pathogenesis and management of high molecular risk myeloproliferative neoplasms,
- ‘Strategies to prevent or treat the devastating clinical consequence of AML arising from antecedent MPN, also known as blast-phase MPN’. Paper is titled Prevention and treatment of transformation of myeloproliferative neoplasms to acute myeloid leukemia.
ASH 2024 overview podcast from Claire Harrison from the UK
Haematologist Claire Harrison from Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital in the UK is one of the world’s leading MPN experts.
In this podcast she provides an overview of some of the MPN presentations from the American Society of Hematology meeting (ASH) in December 2024.
Yet again, the amount of research into MPNs here in Australia and world-wide is extremely reassuring for patients.
The podcast can be accessed HERE.
February 2025 MPN Education Foundation patient conference videos
Every two years the MPN Education Foundation hosts a wonderful patient conference in Scottsdale Arizona, with some of the most distinguished MPN expert presenters. The conference is titled the Joyce Niblack Memorial Conference, and is hosted by the Mayo Clinic.
We are very fortunate to be able to view the conference video presentations and slides.
Here is a list of presenters and topics:
Jyoti Nangalia – MPN Molecular Biology
Rupali Bhave -Managing ET in 2025
Raajit Rampal – Managing PV in 2025
Naveen Pemmaraju – Managing ET in 2025
Ruben Mesa – Guidelines & Gaps in MPN
Jeanne Palmer – Transplants in MPN for 2025
Marina Kremyanskaya – New Drugs for PV
John Mascarenhas – New Drugs for MF
Angela Fleischman – Nutrition & Complementary Approaches for MPNs
Jean-Jacques Kiladjian – Long Term Outcomes of Interferon in MPNS
Steffen Koschmieder – Inflammation in MPNs
Susan Leclair – Learning about my Labs: An MPN Patient Guide
New Australian research into causes of thrombosis in MPNs
The MPN AA is delighted to report on some very recent Australian MPN research into causes of thrombosis in MPNs and, in particular, polycythemia vera (PV).
As MPN patients are aware, MPNs are associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. This Australian research has added a new insight into the mechanism underlying thrombosis which can be such a risk for MPN patients, especially PV patients.
This research was presented at the December 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting by haematologist and researcher, Dr Indu Raman. The research was undertaken by Dr Indu Raman, Dr Cavan Bennett, and colleagues at Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Molecular Oncology and Cancer Immunology, Epworth Healthcare, and Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The poster presentation and accompanying paper are titled: Dysregulated Complement Activation in Polycythemia Vera: A Novel Mechanism for Thrombosis in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms Uncovered By Proteomic Analysis
Full details of poster presented at ASH by Dr Indu Raman
While research has identified factors such as increased activation of platelets, neutrophils and elevated expression of molecules directly involved in clot formation, underlying mechanisms of thrombosis are not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate potential mechanisms underlying the increased thrombotic risk in MPNs. This was done through mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis of bone marrow trephines.
To provide some definitions before reading on:
– Bone marrow trephines are the solid cores of bone marrow tissue recovered from a patient during a bone marrow biopsy.
– Proteomic analysis is the analysis of the entire set of proteins that is expressed by a genome, that is the genetic information contained in the cells in that bone marrow sample
– Complement proteins are a group of immune system proteins – some of many identifiable from the proteomic analysis.
Experiments undertaken by Dr Raman and the research team suggest increased activation of complement proteins, a group of immune system proteins. Overactivation of complement proteins can enhance both inflammation and clot formation.
These findings are novel and have not been well described previously. Dysregulated complement protein activation may contribute to the heightened clotting and inflammation observed in PV.
Dr Raman and team advise that further studies are needed to confirm this finding, which may lead to alternative therapeutic options.
Further detail about the research is available via the ASH Abstract
If you have specific questions for Dr Raman or Dr Cavan Bennett, about this research please first contact the MPNAA at mpnaa@mpnallianceaustralia.org.au
The MPN AA thanks Drs Raman, Bennett and the research team for this important research.
2024 ASH MPN highlights with Dr Ruben Mesa
Courtesy of Ann Brazeau of MPN Advocacy and Education International, here is a wonderful summary video of the MPN highlights from the December 2024 American Society of Haematology (ASH) meeting provided by Dr Ruben Mesa.
Watch the video HERE
Patients with CalR mutation – promising ASH update
The American Society of Hematology’s December 2024 conference included developments in treatments for MPN patients with the CalR mutation. A range of Australian and international immunotherapy research is underway and some treatments are already in clinical trials. It is too early to present results.
A fascinating video about CalR treatment research is linked below.
In the video, Drs Alex Rampotas and Zoë Wong explain that there are already specific immunotherapies being trialled against the CalR mutation, all of which may well be effective. They specifically mention a ‘B specific T cell engager’ and ‘a blocking antibody against it’.
However their collaboration is about a third type of immunotherapy option, a novel second generation CAR-T cell therapy. They advise that CAR-T is the ‘strongest immunotherapy so potentially ……. able to overcome some of the immune suppression of myelofibrosis and directly eliminate the malignant stell cells.’
The full video is 8 minutes long, unfortunately with background noise. However if you have the CalR mutation, watching the video will give you a Christmas present of great promise!
The MPN Alliance Australia works in partnership with the Leukaemia Foundation
