Unmasking Additional Mutations: A Single Institution Study in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are chronic myeloid malignancies characterized by substantial genetic heterogeneity. Although routine molecular evaluation focuses on canonical driver alterations (BCR::ABL1, JAK2, CALR, and MPL), additional somatic mutations have important diagnostic and prognostic implications.

We retrospectively analyzed 1209 consecutive patients who underwent peripheral blood next-generation sequencing (NGS) for suspected or established MPNs using a comprehensive 75-gene DNA/RNA panel.

Canonical driver alterations were identified in 141 patients, while 1068 were driver-negative. Retrospective analysis demonstrated that 251 patients (21%) harbored at least one additional pathogenic or likely pathogenic mutation that was not routinely reported. Among driver-positive patients, 57 of 141 (40%) carried clinically relevant co-mutations, including high-molecular-risk genes such as ASXL1, TP53, SRSF2, SF3B1, RUNX1, U2AF1, and IDH2. Furthermore, 194 of 1068 (18%) driver-negative patients harbored additional pathogenic mutations, several of which supported clonal hematopoiesis or alternative myeloid neoplasms. Peripheral blood and bone marrow molecular findings demonstrated high concordance (R² = 0.87).

These findings indicate that comprehensive NGS performed at the time of initial evaluation provides clinically relevant genomic information beyond canonical driver mutations, improves disease classification and risk stratification, and may facilitate earlier diagnosis and personalized management of patients with suspected MPNs.