AUTHOR=Downes Charlotte EJ. , McClure Barbara J. , McDougal Daniel P. , Heatley Susan L. , Bruning John B. , Thomas Daniel , Yeung David T. , White Deborah L. 

TITLE=JAK2 Alterations in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Molecular Insights for Superior Precision Medicine Strategies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2022.942053

DOI=10.3389/fcell.2022.942053

ISSN=2296-634X

ABSTRACT=<p>Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer, arising from immature lymphocytes that show uncontrolled proliferation and arrested differentiation. Genomic alterations affecting Janus kinase 2 (<italic>JAK2</italic>) correlate with some of the poorest outcomes within the Philadelphia-like subtype of ALL. Given the success of kinase inhibitors in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, the discovery of activating <italic>JAK2</italic> point mutations and <italic>JAK2</italic> fusion genes in ALL, was a breakthrough for potential targeted therapies. However, the molecular mechanisms by which these alterations activate JAK2 and promote downstream signaling is poorly understood. Furthermore, as clinical data regarding the limitations of approved JAK inhibitors in myeloproliferative disorders matures, there is a growing awareness of the need for alternative precision medicine approaches for specific <italic>JAK2</italic> lesions. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms behind ALL-associated <italic>JAK2</italic> mutations and <italic>JAK2</italic> fusion genes, known and potential causes of JAK-inhibitor resistance, and how <italic>JAK2</italic> alterations could be targeted using alternative and novel rationally designed therapies to guide precision medicine approaches for these high-risk subtypes of ALL.</p>