Identification of a novel GOLGA4–JAK2 fusion gene in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

Abstract

Rearrangements of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2r) form a subtype of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) associated with poor patient outcomes. We present a high-risk case of B-cell ALL (B-ALL) where retrospective mRNA sequencing identified a novel GOLGA4–JAK2 fusion gene. Expression of GOLGA4–JAK2 in murine pro-B cells promoted factor-independent growth, implicating GOLGA4–JAK2 as an oncogenic driver. Cells expressing GOLGA4–JAK2 demonstrated constitutive activation of JAK/STAT signalling and were sensitive to JAK inhibitors. This study contributes to the diverse collection of JAK2 fusion genes identified in B-ALL and supports the incorporation of JAK inhibitors into treatment strategies to improve outcomes for this subtype.