External Validation of Newly Proposed Cytogenetic Risk Classification in Patients Who Have Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Retrospective Analysis at a Single Institution

BackgroundA newly proposed cytogenetic risk classification (NPCRC) has defined four risk groups including favorable, intermediate-1 (Int-1), intermediate-2 (Int-2) and unfavorable. The current study evaluated the prognostic power of the NPCRC in patients who have myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).Patients and MethodsBetween 1996 and 2007, 116 MDS patients receiving best supportive care were included in the analysis at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.ResultsAccording to the NPCRC, 3 patients had 5q-,1 patient had 12p-, 3 patients had 20q-, 3 patients had -Y, patient had t(11)(q23), 55 patients were normal, 1 patient had +1q, 1 patient had 3q21/q26-abnormalities, 11 patients had +8, 14 patients had any other single, 8 patients had any other double, 2 patients had -7/7q-, 5 patients had three complex abnormalities, and 8 patients had more than three complex abnormalities. Also, 66 patients (57%) were favorable, 35 (30%) were Int-1, 9 (8%) were Int-2, and 6 (5%) were in the unfavorable subgroup. The median OS times were 23.8, 24.1, 13.0, and 9.1 months in the favorable, Int-1, Int-2 and unfavorable subgroups, respectively (P = .005, between favorable/Int-1 and Int-2/unfavorable risk group, hazard ratio 2.19, 95% confidence interval 1.25-3.84).ConclusionIn our study, the NPCRC seems to stratify patients according to their risk of death, especially between the unfavorable/Int-2 and Int-1/favorable risk groups.