Detection of V617F mutation of JAK2 gene by high resolution melting

Polycythemia Vera (PV), Essential Thrombocythemia (TE) and Primary Myelofibrosis (MP) are myeloproliferative neoplasias characterized by excessive proliferation of one or more myeloid lines. In 2005, a somatic mutation was identified in the Janus kinase 2 gene (JAK2), resulting in the replacement of a phenylalanine in the protein for a valine at position 617 (JAK2 V617F). This mutation was found in 95% of patients with PV, and in half of the cases of TE or MP. Different methodologies have been described to identify this mutation: the most used are ARMS PCR (Amplification Refractory Mutation System PCR), sequencing and recently HRM (High Resolution Melting). In this work, detection of JAK2 V617F was studied in samples from patients with myeloproliferative disorders using HRM, determining its specificity and sensitivity in comparison with ARMS PCR and sequencing. The results showed that the technique is superior to sequencing and equivalent to ARMS PCR. Sensitive and specific methodologies for the detection of JAK2 V617F in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasias are of great importance at diagnostic level since they can differentiate between neoplastic disorders and reactive conditions.