Selective dependency of CALR-mutant myeloproliferative neoplasms on TYK2 signaling

Abstract

Abstract Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are driven by the oncoproteins JAK2V617F, mutant calreticulin (CALR), and mutant thrombopoietin receptor (TPOR), all of which activate JAK/STAT signaling. While JAK2 signaling is engaged in all MPNs, TYK2 is dispensable for JAK2V617F-driven disease. Here, we hypothesized a distinct role for TYK2 in CALR-mutant driven MPN. We found constitutive TYK2 phosphorylation in CALRdel52/ins5- and MPLW515K- but not JAK2V617F-expressing cells. Modelling of JAK2/TPOR vs. TYK2/TPOR interaction confirmed similar binding affinities of both kinases to the receptor, which was more relevant in CALRdel52-positive cells. The TYK2 inhibitor deucravacitinib reduced viability and STAT3/5 phosphorylation in CALRdel52/ins5- and MPLW515K- but not JAK2V617F-mutant cells, with enhanced efficacy when combined with the JAK2-selective inhibitor fedratinib. Cellular response correlated with JAK2 protein abundance, as CALRins5 JAK2 high clones outcompeted JAK2 low clones upon TYK2 inhibition. In primary samples, deucravacitinib significantly suppressed colony growth in ET and PMF but not PV, and selectively reduced CALR- but not JAK2V617F-mutant allele burden. Similarly, CALR-mutant patient-specific iPSC-derived CD34 + progenitors were more sensitive to TYK2 inhibition than their JAK2V617F counterparts. These findings identify TYK2 as a selective vulnerability in CALR-mutant MPN and support combined TYK2/JAK2 inhibition strategies to overcome JAK2-dependent resistance.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Leukemia, 2026 · DOI ↗