PCR-HRM for Detecting JAK2V617F Gene Mutation: Is It a Sensitive Assay?

 A substitution of G to T at nucleotide 1849 in exon 14 of the Janus kinase2 (JAK2) gene is recognized to MPNs disorders. Based on WHO guidelines detection of the mutation is very important to confirm the disease in the suspected patients.

 Eighty-seven patients with different background diseases were tested for JAK2 V617F mutation by four different methods, including polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS), polymerase chain reaction-high resolution melting (PCR-HRM), and two different commercial kits.

 The mean age of patients was 53.38±17.43 years, 72.4% were males, and 37.6% were females. JAK2 mutation was detected in 16 patients (18.3%). Of those, 7 (43.75%) suffered from PV, 5 (31.25%) from ET, 3 (18.75%) from PMF, and 1 (6.15%) from unclassified neoplastic disorders. The frequency of JAK2 mutation was 71.4% (5/7) in PV, 80% (4/5) in ET, and 66.7% (2/3) in PMF patients. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and GE of PCR-HRM for detection of the JAK2 mutation was 86.7%,100%, 100%, 97.3%, and 97.7%, respectively. While the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and 100 GE of PCR-RFLP were 93.3%, 80.5%, 50%, 98.3%, and 82.7%, respectively. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and GE of ARMS assays were evaluated by about 80%, 96%, 100%, 96%, and 96.5%, respectively.

 This study showed that PCR-HRM was a more sensitive assay to detect the JAK2 V617F mutation than the other assays. So, it can be used as a quick, easy, and effective method for screening the JAK2 V617F mutation in patients with MPNs disorders. PCR-RFLP must accompany it as a gold standard method for confirmation of the mutation of JAK2 V617F.