Erlotinib effectively inhibits JAK2^V617F activity and polycythemia vera cell growth

JAK2^V617F, a mutant of tyrosine kinase JAK2, is found in most patients with polycythemia vera (PV) and a substantial proportion of patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis or essential thrombocythemia. The JAK2 mutant displays a much increased kinase activity and generates a PV-like phenotype in mouse bone marrow transplant models. This study shows that the anticancer drug erlotinib (Tarceva™) is a potent inhibitor of JAK2^V617F activity. In vitro colony culture assays revealed that erlotinib at micro-molar concentrations effectively suppresses the growth and expansion of PV hematopoietic progenitor cells while having little effect on normal cells. Furthermore, JAK2^V617F-positive cells from PV patients show greater susceptibility to the inhibitor than their negative counterparts. Similar inhibitory effects were found with the JAK2^V617F-positive human erythroleukemia HEL cell line. These data suggest that erlotinib may be used for treatment of JAK2^V617F-positive PV and other myeloproliferative disorders.