Test ID: CALR CALR Mutation Analysis, Myeloproliferative Neoplasm (MPN), Varies
Useful For
Rapid and sensitive detection of insertion and deletion-type mutations in exon 9 of CALR
An aid in distinction between reactive thrombocytosis and leukocytosis versus a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), especially essential thrombocythemia (ET) and primary myelofibrosis (PMF), and is highly informative in cases in which JAK2 and MPL testing are negative
Especially helpful to the pathologist in those bone marrow cases with ambiguous etiology of thrombocytosis, equivocal bone marrow morphologic findings of MPN, and unexplained reticulin fibrosis
An aid in prognostication of PMF and thrombosis risk assessment in ET
Special Instructions
Reporting Name
MPN, CALR Gene Mutation, Exon 9Specimen Type
VariesShipping Instructions
Specimen must arrive within 7 days (168 hours) of collection.
Necessary Information
The following information is required:
1. Pertinent clinical history
2. Clinical or morphologic suspicion
3. Date of collection
4. Specimen source
Specimen Required
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Peripheral blood
Container/Tube: EDTA (lavender top) or ACD-B (yellow top)
Specimen Volume: 3 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Invert several times to mix blood.
2. Send specimen in original tube.
3. Label specimen as blood.
Specimen Stability: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerate
Specimen Type: Bone marrow
Container/Tube: EDTA (lavender top) or ACD-B (yellow top)
Specimen Volume: 2 mL
Collection Instructions:
1. Invert several times to mix bone marrow.
2. Send specimen in original tube.
3. Label specimen as bone marrow.
Specimen Stability: Ambient (preferred)/Refrigerate
Specimen Type: Extracted DNA from blood or bone marrow
Container/Tube: 1.5- to 2-mL tube
Specimen Volume: Entire specimen
Collection Instructions: Label specimen as extracted DNA from blood or bone marrow and include indication of volume and concentration of the DNA.
Specimen Stability: Frozen (preferred)/Refrigerate/Ambient
Specimen Minimum Volume
1 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Varies | Varies | 7 days |
Clinical Information
The most frequent genetic mutation in BCR-ABL1-negative myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is the JAK2V617F mutation, which is present in approximately 50% to 60% of patients. It serves as a confirmatory molecular marker of these diseases. Mutations in the MPL gene are found in an additional 5% to 10% of ET and PMF cases. It was recently discovered that somatic mutation (insertions and deletions) in exon 9 of the CALR gene is the second most frequent somatic mutation after JAK2 in ET and PMF patients, and it is mutually exclusive of JAK2 and MPL mutations.(1,2) It has a frequency of approximately 49% to 88% in JAK2 and MPL-wild type (WT) ET and PMF, and is not found in polycythemia vera (PV) patients.(1-4) Therefore, CALR mutation serves as an important diagnostic molecular marker in ET and PMF.
The CALR gene encodes for calreticulin, a multifunctional protein with a C-terminus rich in acidic amino acids and a KDEL ER-retention motif. All the pathologic CALR mutations reported to date are out-of-frame insertion and/or deletions (indel) in exon 9, generating a 1 base-pair (bp) frame shift and a mutant protein with a novel C-terminus rich in basic amino acids and loss of the KDEL ER-retention signal. The most common mutation types are 52-bp deletion (c.1092_1143del, L367fs*46) and 5-bp insertion (c.1154_1155insTTGCC, K385fs*47), and they comprise approximately 85% of CALR mutations in MPN.(1,2) CALR mutations have been found in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in MPN patients(2) and may activate the STAT5 signaling pathway.(1) They are associated with decreased risk of thrombosis in ET (1,3-5), and better survival in PMF compared to JAK2 mutations.(5)
Reference Values
An interpretive report will be provided
Interpretation
An interpretive report will be issued.
The results will be reported as 1 of the 3 states if DNA amplification is successful (see Cautions):
-Positive. A deletion/insertion-type mutation was detected in CALR, exon 9.
-Negative. No deletion or insertion was detected in CALR, exon 9.
-Equivocal. A small amplicon suspicious for a deletion/insertion type mutation was detected in CALR, exon 9.
Positive mutation status is highly suggestive of a myeloid neoplasm, but must be correlated with clinical and other laboratory and morphologic features for definitive diagnosis.
Negative mutation status does not exclude the presence of a myeloproliferative neoplasm or other neoplastic disorders.
Clinical Reference
1. Klampfl T, Gisslinger H, Harutyunyan AS, et al: Somatic mutation of calreticulin in myeloproliferative neoplasms. N Engl J Med 2013;369:2379-90
2. Nangalia J, Massie CE, Baxter EJ, et al: Somatic CALR mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms with nonmutated JAK2. N Engl J Med 2013;369:2391-2405
3. Rumi E, Pietra D, Ferretti V, et al: JAK2 or CALR mutation status defines subtypes of essential thrombocythemia with substantially different clinical course and outcomes. Blood 2014 Mar 6;123(10):1544-1551
4. Rotunno G, Mannarelli C, Guglielmelli P, et al: Impact of calreticulin mutations on clinical and hematological phenotype and outcome in essential thrombocythemia. Blood 2014;123(10):1552-1555
5. Tefferi A, Lasho TL, Finke CM, et al: CALR vs JAK2 vs MPL-mutated or triple-negative myelofibrosis: clinical, cytogenetic and molecular comparisons. Leukemia 2014 Jul;28(7):1472-1477
Day(s) and Time(s) Performed
Monday through Friday; 8 a.m.
Analytic Time
3 daysTest Classification
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. This test has not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.CPT Code Information
81219-CALR (calreticulin) (eg, myeloproliferative disorders), gene analysis, common variants in exon 9
LOINC Code Information
Test ID | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
CALR | MPN, CALR Gene Mutation, Exon 9 | 77174-1 |
Result ID | Test Result Name | Result LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
MP020 | Specimen | 31208-2 |
36301 | Final Diagnosis | 22637-3 |
Testing Algorithm
The following algorithms are available in Special Instructions:
-Myeloproliferative Neoplasm: A Diagnostic Approach to Peripheral Blood Evaluation
-Myeloproliferative Neoplasm: A Diagnostic Approach to Bone Marrow Evaluation
Method Name
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Fragment Analysis
Forms
1. Hematopathology Patient Information (T676) in Special Instructions
2. If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Hematopathology/Cytogenetics Test Request (T726) with the specimen.
mml-myeloproliferative-neoplasm